Differentiation Processes in Lichens — in Vivo Cultivation and Transplantation Methods

Abstract

When the symbiotic nature of lichens was discovered, scientists attempted to culture these organisms. As the lichens consist of a mycobiont and a photobiont, an obvious aim was to separate the two partners and then resynthesise intact lichens. Later experiments included the culturing of isolated symbionts (Ahmadjian 1973, 1989, Bubrick & Galun 1988) and the growth and transplantation of entire thalli (Brodo 1961, Armstrong 1993). All these experiments were less successful than expected, as the complexity of the interactions between the partners, and thus the sensitivity of the internal equilibrium of the symbiosis were underestimated. Although no culture method can solve all the scientific problems that exist in lichenology, several methods are now available that can be used successfully for different purposes. The most important areas of research where techniques for culturing lichens have been useful include:

• 1. The isolation and culturing of the separated symbionts in tissue culture (see Chapters 1 and 2).

• 2. Experiments on re-synthesis (see Chapter 3).

• 3. The growth of thalli from fragments and vegetative diaspores (see Chapter 2).

• 4. Transplantation of thalli.