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Ultraviolet radiation reduces lichen growth rates

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Abstract

We quantified relative growth rates (RGR) in shade-adapted and melanin-deficient thalli of Cetraria islandica and Lobaria pulmonaria cultivated in short-term growth chamber experiments with and without UV-B radiation. In the first experiment done under optimal PAR (125 μmol m−2 s−1), but high UV-B radiation (1 W m−2), UV-B radiation significantly reduced RGR (P < 0.001). The second experiment with higher PAR, but more natural ratios between wavelength ranges (PAR: 500 μmol m−2 s−1; UV-A: 7 W m−2; UV-B: 0.4 W m−2), caused a reduction in mean RGR in L. pulmonaria to just 45% of rates in experiment 1. Lobaria pulmonaria screened from UV-B radiation had 1.9 and 1.6 times higher RGR than non-screened thalli in experiment 1 and 2, respectively. UV-B radiation significantly induced melanin synthesis in the second experiment only, causing significantly less photoinhibition than in thalli receiving just PAR. This is consistent with PAR-protective roles of melanins. Chlorophylls were not affected by UV-B radiation in any experiment. Because UV-B radiation affected RGR more than pure photobiont responses, the mycobiont is likely the more UV-B-susceptible partner. Apart from reduced RGR, we found little evidence for adverse UV-B effects.

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Acknowledgements

The Research Council of Norway, South Africa – Norway, Research co-operation (SANCOOP), project 234178, is thanked for financial support. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for useful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway

    Dipa Paul Chowdhury, Knut Asbjørn Solhaug & Yngvar Gauslaa

  2. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, CERAD, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway

    Knut Asbjørn Solhaug

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  1. Dipa Paul Chowdhury
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Correspondence to Yngvar Gauslaa.

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Chowdhury, D.P., Solhaug, K.A. & Gauslaa, Y. Ultraviolet radiation reduces lichen growth rates. Symbiosis 73, 27–34 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-016-0468-x

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