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In the present study, we characterized the phytochemical properties, which were specifically associated with phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities in six distinct ecotypes of Umbilicaria aprina Nyl . from Iran (including Kivarestan, Mishan, Takht-e Nader, Tochal, Sabalan, and Sahand) to detect diversities within the species. Total phenolic concentration (TPC) and radical scavenging capacities of U. aprina ecotypes were evaluated. Moreover, qualitative differences between chemical profiles were surveyed using liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Relatively moderate TPCs (Kivarestan = 36.12 ± 2.1, Mishan = 41.59 ± 2.2, Takht-e Nader = 31.85 ± 1.3, Tochal = 37.55 ± 2.3, Sabalan = 28.91 ± 2.5, and Sahand = 31.59 ± 2.2) were observed for ecotypes, but a very strong correlation ( r  = −0/842) was obtained between TPCs and IC 50 values. Based on the results of LC-ESI-MS/MS, the following chemical substances were identified: orsellinic acid (1), lecanoric acid (2), evernic acid (3), gyrophoric acid (4), umbilicaric acid (5), hiascic acid (6), stictic acid (7) methyl hiascic acid (8), and an unknown substance (9). The MS/MS fragmentation scheme for each substance was determined and proposed. Wide discrepancies were observed in the chemical profiles of lichen ecotypes, which may corroborate the influence of ecological locality conditions, for example, altitude and slope aspects on secondary metabolism of lichen species U. aprina . The north-facing and east-facing ecotypes (Sabalan and Mishan, respectively) lacked depsidones (stictic acid) mainly because they receive the least direct radiation. Mishan ecotype, as the only east-facing ecotype, showed the most different chemical profile.

Detailed morphological investigations and phylogenetic analyses of the ITS/5.8S nrDNA, mtLSU and RPB2 of the Umbilicaria crustulosa–U. spodochroa species complex reveal Umbilicaria hirsuta var. meizospora Harm. to be a separate species. The lectotype has been designated in ANGUC and a new combination Umbilicaria meizospora (Harm.) D. M. Masson & Davydov is proposed. Umbilicaria crustulosa var. badiofusca was recognized as the heterotypic synonym of U. meizospora and the lectotype was designated based on Frey's collection preserved in G. We provide a full description of U. meizospora and outline its distribution and ecology. The species is newly reported from Austria.

Desiccation tolerance is a feature of most lichens. These symbiotic associations of a fungal partner (mycobiont) and a photosynthetic partner (photobiont) experience severe desiccation on a regular basis. Many lichen species colonise extreme habitats, such as the cold deserts of Antarctica. Although the stress physiology of lichens has been studied extensively, little is known about the photobionts' physiological potential. To assess the contribution of photobionts to lichen success in Antarctic terrestrial environments, the photosynthetic partners of Umbilicaria decussata (Umbilicariaceae, lichenised ascomycetes) and Usnea lambii (Parmeliaceae, lichenised ascomycetes) from extreme habitats in southern Antarctica were isolated. Significant differences regarding stress tolerance of the two green algae had been shown previously despite their close phylogenetic relationship. A deeper understanding and explanation of these differences were obtained by examination of the metabolite profiles and dynamics, especially the role of sugars, polyols and amino acids. High concentrations of ribitol and sucrose, among other metabolites, characterised the photobiont of Usnea lambii's mainly constitutive strategy of desiccation tolerance. A high degree of specialisation to dry environments can be assumed for this photobiont.

The phytochemical analysis of methanol and chloroform extracts of Umbilicaria cylindrica was determined by HPLC-UV method. The predominant phenolic compound in both extracts was depsidone, salazinic acid (1). Besides salazinic acid, the tested extracts of U. cylindrica contain norstictic acid (2), methyl-β-orcinol carboxylate (3), ethyl haematommate (4), atranorin (5), and usnic acid (6), in different amounts and relations. The lichen extracts showed comparable and strong antioxidant activity, exhibited higher DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavengings, chelating activity, and inhibitory activity towards lipid peroxidation. The lichen extracts demonstrated important antimicrobial activity against eight strains with MIC values from 15.62 to 62.50 μg/mL. This is the first report of the detail chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the lichen Umbilicaria cylindrica, and the results suggest that this lichen can be used as a new source of the natural antioxidants and the substances with antimicrobial features.

Xylopsora canopeorum Timdal, Reese Næsborg & Bendiksby is described as a new species occupying the crowns of large Sequoia sempervirens trees in California, USA. The new species is supported by morphology, anatomy, secondary chemistry and DNA sequence data. While similar in external appearance to X. friesii , it is distinguished by forming smaller, partly coralloid squamules, by the occurrence of soralia and, in some specimens, by the presence of thamnolic acid in addition to friesiic acid in the thallus. Molecular phylogenetic results are based on nuclear (ITS and LSU) as well as mitochondrial (SSU) ribosomal DNA sequence alignments. Phylogenetic hypotheses obtained using Bayesian Inference, Maximum Likelihood and Maximum Parsimony all support X. canopeorum as a distinct evolutionary lineage belonging to the X. caradocensis – X. friesii clade.

We describe Umbilicaria nodulospora, a distinctive new species occurring on steep rock faces on old lava flows in California and Oregon. The species is unusual among lichenized ascomycetes in consistently having one or two shallowly bulging knobs at one end of each ascospore, suggesting a T, Y, or L shape; otherwise they are consistent with the appearance of ascospores in most Umbilicaria species. The species is readily distinguished in the field by a grayish tone to the brown upper surface, in combination with a thickly rhizinate lower surface. Distinctiveness of the species was supported by analysis of the ITS and LSU regions of nrDNA. No close relative or sister taxon was found. Umbilicaria nodulospora is so far known only from geologically recent flood basalts in central Oregon to northeastern California.

Umbilicaria semitensis was described by Tuckerman in 1872 based on a specimen from Yosemite National Park. Despite the species having muriform spores, in contrast to simple spores in U. angulata, U. semitensis has long been treated as a synonym of U. angulata, owing to the superficial similarities of the thallus. Analysis of the ITS and LSU regions of nrDNA supports the hypothesis that the species are distinct. In addition to the spore and DNA differences, the two species are largely allopatric, and only know to co-occur in one site in Oregon. Umbilicaria semitensis ranges from southern California to southern Oregon, while U. angulata ranges from California to arctic Alaska.

The levels and frequencies of mycotoxin accumulation in lichens belonging to 20 genera of the families Cladoniaceae, Nephromataceae, Parmeliaceae, Peltigeraceae, Teloschistaceae, and Umbilicariaceae were characterized using enzyme immunoassay. Alternariol, sterigmatocystin, mycophenolic acid, citrinin, cyclopiazonic acid, and emodin were regularly detected in all genera, except for Peltigera, at an average level of more than 1000 ng/g (i.e., 0.0001%). The necessity for the safety monitoring of drugs based on lichen extractives is discussed.

Based on extensive new collections, a key to and a list of 11 species of the lichen genus Umbilicaria in Bolivia are provided, and their diversity, altitudinal distribution, biogeographical affinity and reproductive strategies are discussed. Umbilicaria africana, U. aprina, U. cinereorufescens, U. decussata, U. dendrophora, U. leprosa and U. vellea are reported from Bolivia for the first time. The Umbilicaria species of Bolivia belong to several biogeographical elements: an “international” high altitude group of species (4000–5500 m) found in most alpine or Arctic areas of the world (U. aprina, U. cinereorufescens, U. decussata, U. dendrophora, U. nylanderiana, U. vellea), and a central Andean endemic element (U. calvescens, U. leprosa, U. haplocarpa) which completely dominates at lower altitudes (2500–4000 m). In addition the mainly Southern Hemispheric U. africana is abundant in the high alpine areas. A two-phase scenario is suggested where the ancestor of the endemic element colonized and evolved in the Andes while the mountain chain was still fairly low, while the international element is a comparatively recent addition.

Umbilicaria iberica and U. maculata are described as new to science on the basis of morphological and molecular data. Umbilicaria iberica is similar to U. polyphylla but differs in having a monophyllous thallus with a distinctive white reticular pattern over the umbilicus and actinodisc apothecia. Umbilicaria maculata is similar to U. cylindrica but this new species is distinguished by its grey-brown thallus with sparse marginal cilia and white stains on the upper surface especially in the marginal zone, as well as by sessile apothecia with one or a few sterile fissures. Nuclear ITS and LSU rDNA have been used as molecular markers. In the phylogenetic analysis U. polyphylla falls into two well supported clades (A and B), one of which corresponds to the morphotype that is described here as a new taxon. Specimens previously recognized as U. cylindrica fall into three well supported clades: clade C corresponds to the typical morphotype, clade D corresponds to morphotype II described here as a new taxon, and clade E is morphotype III which is recognized as U. cf. umbilicarioides. Typical group I introns have been found in position 1506 of the nuclear SSU rDNA of Umbilicaria; a consensus secondary structure of these introns is presented and we conclude that they represent an important and valuable molecular marker which gives additional support to the ITS and LSU sequence phylogeny obtained.