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Recognition mechanisms during the pre-contact state of lichens: II. Influence of algal exudates and ribitol on the response of the mycobiont of Fulgensia bracteata

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Abstract

Successful re-lichenization between the two bionts of the lichen symbiosis, the fungal mycobiont and its specific photobiont, is a process that is not well understood yet. To assess potential signalling between the two bionts during initial pre-contact, exudates of the Trebouxia photobionts of Fulgensia bracteata, Fulgensia fulgens, and Xanthoria elegans, of the Asterochloris photobiont of Lecidea lurida, and of the non-lichenizing green alga Myrmecia bisecta were investigated. The compounds identified in these exudates were tested with respect to their influence on germination and early development of the Fulgensia bracteata mycobiont. Additionally, carbohydrates (glucose, sucrose, ribitol) were tested to appraise their effect on the mycobiont growth patterns. Three hypotheses were confirmed: (i) photobionts exude various substances, (ii) the photobiont exudation pattern varies with the identity of the photobiont, and (iii) a pre-contact influence induces changes in the early development of the mycobiont of F. bracteata. This study gives comparative insight to exudates of lichen photobionts. In vitro photobionts differentially release compounds belonging to several substance classes which include indole-3-carbaldehyde, two cyclic dipeptides, and rhamnose. Two compounds had inhibitory effects on germination and germ-tube growth of the mycobiont and one other enhanced spore germination. Additionally, ribitol was found to elicit a strong effect on the mycobiont’s growth. In general, photobiont-exudation, its effect on the mycobiont, and the response to ribitol suggest that complex pre-contact signalling has a crucial role in lichen biont recognition.

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Abbreviations

CLT:

Cyclo-(L-leucyl-L-tyrosyl)

CTT:

Cyclo-(L-tryptophyl-L-tryptophyl)

EIMS:

Electron impact mass spectrometry

HPLC:

High performance liquid chromatography

IAA:

Indole-3-acetic acid

ICA:

Indole-3-carbaldehyde

ITS rDNA:

Internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA

LCMS:

Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

MeOH:

Methanol

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density

Rf :

Retardation factor

TLC:

Thin layer chromatography

TOM:

Trebouxia Organic Medium

UV/VIS:

Ultraviolet/visible light

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Acknowledgments

Our special thanks are due to the members of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology (HHU Düsseldorf) for their friendly and invaluable support, namely Pharmacist Julia Kjer, Dr. Ru Angelie Edrada-Ebel, and Prof. Dr. Reinhard Ebel. We thank Ralf Bürgel from the Institute of Inorganic and Structural Chemistry (HHU Düsseldorf) for EIMS-analysis and the group of Prof. M. Braun at the Institute of Organic and Makromolecular Chemistry (HHU Düsseldorf) for the synthesis of cyclo-(leu-tyr). Thanks are also due to the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. Finally, the authors are very grateful for financial support by the Düsseldorf Entrepreneurs Foundation. The results are included in the doctoral thesis of Joachim Meeßen.

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  1. Institute of Botany, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitaetsstr.1, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany

    Joachim Meeßen, Sandra Eppenstein & Sieglinde Ott

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  1. Joachim Meeßen
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  2. Sandra Eppenstein
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  3. Sieglinde Ott
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Correspondence to Sieglinde Ott.

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Dedicated to Margalith Galun. In honour of her inspiring work.

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Meeßen, J., Eppenstein, S. & Ott, S. Recognition mechanisms during the pre-contact state of lichens: II. Influence of algal exudates and ribitol on the response of the mycobiont of Fulgensia bracteata . Symbiosis 59, 131–143 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-012-0219-6

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