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The new commensalistic lichenicolous genus Ajaysinghia, is described, illustrated, and compared with other morphologically similar fungi. The type species, A. dendriscostictae, grows on the thallus of the corticolous lichen Dendriscosticta praetextata in temperate and subalpine regions of Central Himalaya (Uttarakhand, India). It is distinguished from other lichenicolous ascomycetes described so far in having pseudoperithecia growing in clumps making it appear like galls, (0–)1-septate, brown ascospores [(12–)14.2–17.3(–18) × (3–)3.7–4.8(–5) μm, l/b = (2.8–)3.3–4.2(–4.6) μm], with rounded to pointed ends, slightly constricted at the septum and a cyanobacterial host (Dendriscosticta praetextata).

Sphinctrina pertusa Falswal A. is described as a new species of lichenicolous fungus from India. It is characterised by eight non-septate, broadly ellipsoidal, uniseriate, ascospores with olive green tint and irregular ridge like ornamentations. This fungus is growing on known lichen host Pertusaria but differs from five closely related species i.e., S. anglica, S. leucopoda, S. tubaeformis, S. turbinata, S. paramerae with different taxonomic characters. A detailed comparative analysis with non-septate closely related species is provided.

The present paper interprets a new species and a new record of the lichenicolous fungus Pyrenidium from India. The new species P. dimelaenae Y. Joshi was found on the thallus of saxicolous lichen species Dimelaena oreina (Ach.) Norman and is characterised by globose to subglobose black perithecia with light greenish blue tint in ostiolar channel. The new species shares many morphological characters with other Pyrenidium species but differs in its number of spores and hosts. In addition, two new records, i.e. Lichenostigma dimelaenae Calat. et Hafellner and P. borbonicum Huanraluek, Ertz et K. D. Hyde are also being reported from India for the first time.

The purpose of this paper is to review published literature on the diversity of lichens and the factors that affect its distribution in the neotropics. The systematic method was used to research works of literature on “Diversity of lichens and what factors affect their distribution in the neotropics.” A total of forty-nine research papers published between the years 1996 to 2021 was selected and utilized for this review. The results obtained was presented in tables. A subjective approach was then used to select the subtopics: lichens and their impact- benefits and importance. In this paper, twelve (12) neotropical countries were evaluated and a grand total of four hundred twenty-seven (427) lichens species of lichens from fifty-eight (58) lichen families were presented. Lichen distribution and habitats, diversity of lichens and factors that affect the distribution of lichens in the neotropics were also discussed. The published papers established that lichens have a rich diversity globally, they have many benefits and importance, they are widely distributed across the landscape and are found in a wide range of habitats. Many abiotic factors such as temperature, pH, humidity, moisture, latitude, topography, light availability and anthropogenic activities by human beings e.g., pollution and deforestation play a heavy influence on lichens and their distribution in the neotropics as well as globally. More studies should be done in the neotropics since data is limited and in demand.

The effects of the lichenicolous fungus Heterocephalacria bachmannii on the antimicrobial potential of the lichen Cladonia foliacea demonstrated that the extracts investigated have antimicrobial potential against gram-positive and negative bacteria, and yeast, and inhibit the germination of fungal spores. Inhibition activity varied considerably depending on the extract, the bacterial species, and the absence or presence of H. bachmannii; unparasitised C. foliacea has a higher antimicrobial activity. Methanol and acetone extracts of C. foliacea alone have higher inhibition diameters than C. foliacea with H. bachmannii against Enterobacter cloacae; the methanol extract of C. foliacea showed the best inhibition (250 µg/ml). C. foliacea also has a high lysozyme potential against Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus. Fungal hyphae of Alternaria alternata were more affected by the methanol extract from C. foliacea.

Two new species ofSclerococcum, viz.S. dendriscostictaeandS. physciae, colonising members ofDendriscosticta, PhysciaandSticta, are described from Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh states of India, respectively.S. dendriscostictaecolonising the host thallus as well as apothecial disc ofDendriscostictaandStictaspecies is generally characterised by its small sized (0.1–0.4 mm) black apothecia, hyaline hymenium, paraphyses without dark apical caps, asci 8-spored, ascospores ellipsoid, hyaline at immature stage and brown at maturity, 1-septate, smooth walled, 9–10–11(–12) × (3–)3.8–5–6.1(–7) µm, whileS. physciaecolonising thallus ofPhysciasp. is characterised by black, rounded to irregular sporodochia (40–100 µm diam.) having ellipsoid or angular, medium to dark brown, mostly simple, rarely 1-septate conidia [(5–)7.5–10–11.7(–14) × (4–)4.7–5.8–6.9(–7) µm]. A key to known Indian taxa is also being provided.

One hundred seventy-seven species of lichens and lichenicolous fungi are recorded for the island Santa Maria (Azores Archipelago, Portugal). Eighteen species are new for the archipelago. A list of all pertinent specimens with their locality and substrate is presented. Six rare species are illustrated.

The study revealed a new species of Polucoccum colonising thallus of lichen genus Lepra and Varicellaria in tropical and temperate regions of India. The genus belonging to the family Polycoccaceae is represented by 7 species in India. Though the genus is host-specific, there are 12 genera of lichens which are home for more than one species of this fungus. It is the second known species of Polucoccum on members of Lepra and Varicellaria, and differs from the previously known ones – 1) Polucoccum ochvarianum by being gall forming and having smaller perithecia [(88-)104-128-152(−170) × (81-)95-114-133(−145) μm] and 2) Polucoccum sp. in having smaller perithecia [op. cit. vs. 250-300 μm], hymenial gelatine I-, and smaller asci [(50-)55-60-65(-75) × (10-)13-15-17(-18) vs. 90 × 14 μim].

Diederich, P. & Schultz, M. 2021. The identity of Verrucaster lichenicola Tobler. – Herzogia 34: 203–207.The genus and species Verrucaster lichenicola, described by Tobler in 1913 for waxy pycnidia with hyaline, aseptate conidia on Cladonia bacillaris, was poorly known, as the type was missing and no additional similar specimen available. The recent discovery of the type in HBG allowed us to understand that it represents pycnidia of Cladonia, not of a lichenicolous fungus. The names thus become younger synonyms of Cladonia and C. macilenta.

A new lichenicolous fungus Buelliella indica colonising on the thallus of Graphis longiramea is described from the state of Nagaland, a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot region in India. It is characterised by its brown epihymenium, much smaller ascospores with dimensions of 11.5–13.8 × 4.8–6 µm and the new host Graphis.

In the project aiming to determine the lichen mycota of James Ross Island, we identified a new lichenicolous fungus species which is reported from Antarctica for the first time: Sphaerellothecium reticulatum on Flavoparmelia gerlachei. Although this species was identified on other parmelioid lichens, it was never reported on Flavoparmelia spp.

Recent records of lichenicolous fungi from the Kharkiv region are provided. Twenty species were reported as new to the region. Pronectria gromakovae is described as a new species on Lecanora populicola. Didymocyrtis cladoniicola, D. epiphyscia, Epicladonia sandstedei, Katherinomyces cetrariae and Lichenoconium lichenicola are new to the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. Physcia stellaris is reported as a new host species for Cladosporium licheniphilum. Notes on the currently known distribution of selected species in other Ukrainian regions are provided.

Oran, S. 2020. Additions to the lichen biota of the Kaz Mountains (Canakkale-Balikesir, Turkey). – Herzogia 33: 432– 446.In the present paper, 195 lichen taxa and one lichenicolous fungus are reported from the Kaz Mountains. Rhizocarpon jemtlandicum and Rinodina moziana are new to Turkey.

As a result of lichenological exploration in Bitlis province (Turkey), a total of 325 lichens and 21 lichenicolous fungi, which are belonging 113 genera in Ascomycota were determined from 92 different localities. Buellia vouauxii, a lichenicolous fungus, and is new to Turkey and also new for Asia. Aspicilia glomerulans, Llimoniella muralicola, Myriolecis invadens, Ochrolechia subviridis, Placynthium hungaricum and Placynthium posterulum were reported for the second time from Turkey. Collecting localities and their substrata are presented.

A new species of lichenicolous fungus Opegrapha Ach., O. physciae Y.Joshi, is described from The Philippines. The new taxon was found growing on thalli of Physcia sorediosa (Vain.) Lynge and is characterised by its small, flat to slightly convex ascomata, inducing the formation of basally constricted galls, with small lirellae and 3-septate ascospores measuring (11 –) 13.90 – 20.09 (– 21) × (3 –) 3.88 – 5.71 (– 6) μm.

Diederich, P. & Ertz, D. 2018. Lectotypification of Plectocarpon diedertzianum (Arthoniales). – Herzogia 31: 322–326.Plectocarpon diedertzianum Y.Joshi, Upadhyay & Chandra was described from India from four different parmelioid host genera. The figure illustrating the holotype specimen in the original publication appears to represent heterogeneous elements. Therefore, a re-examination of the holotype specimen was performed and confirmed the presence of two similar but distinct arthonialean lichenicolous species belonging to Opegrapha melanospila on Parmotrema reticulatum and to a Plectocarpon species on Myelochroa aurulenta. As a consequence, the name P. diedertzianum is lectotypified on the lichenicolous fungus growing on Myelochroa.

A new lichenicolous fungus Melaspilea nitidochapsae colonising on the thallus of Nitidochapsa leprieurii (Mont.) Parnmen, Lucking et Lumbsch is described from India. The new species differs from other known species colonising lichen family Graphidaceae by having completely carbonised exciple, hyaline to pale brown transversely 1-septate ascospores and a different host.

WOS: 000416549800006, This study reports on 230 infrageneric lichenized and lichenicolous taxa from Barla Mountain, Isparta, Turkey and assesses the ecological features of the area using the distribution of the lichens in the region and their poleophoby and solar irradiation ecological indicator values. One lichenized fungus, Protoblastenia terricola, and one lichenicolous fungus, Zwackhiomyces dispersus, are recorded as new in Turkey and 194 taxa are reported for the first time from Barla Mountain. After this research, number of the lichenized and lichenicolous fungi taxa of Barla Mountain rose to 241. Based on assessments using the ecological indicator values, the area is dominated by natural or semi-natural and well-preserved habitats., Eskisehir Osmangazi University [201019010], This work was supported by the Eskisehir Osmangazi University [grant number 201019010].

Shivarov, V. V. 2019. Clypeococcum hemiamyloideum (Polycoccaceae, Ascomycota), a novel lichenicolous fungus on Verrucaria latebrosa. - Herzogia 32: 438–443.Clypeococcum hemiamyloideum is described as a novel lichenicolous fungus on Verrucaria latebrosa from the Malyovitsa River, Bulgaria. It is characterized by two types of hymenial gels: lower gel predominant, hemiamyloid (1+ red), upper gel only in the ostiolar region, euamyloid (1+ blue), a variable spore number in the mature asci (1–8), pseudothecia 100–175 µm diam., black, and ascospores 17.8–20.3 x 6.6–7.6 µm, brown, thick-walled, warted, 1-sep-tate. The reactions of the hymenial gels in C. hemiamyloideum and V. latebrosa were tested with different concentrations of IKI in order to identify their types and thresholds.

Despite the recent increase in studies on lichenicolous fungi in Turkey, there is still no checklist. A key to lichenicolous fungus prepared by Halici (2008) were published 118 taxa from the Turkey. So far, the numbers of lichenicol fungi known in Turkey is 193. Generally, lichenicol Ascomycota and mitosporic fungi records are reported, whereas lichenicol Basidiomycota recording is rare. Tremella macrobasidiata is reported on Lecanora chlarotera from Turkey for the first time. The morphological, anatomical and ecological characteristics of the species are given. In addition, a phylogenetic tree was constructed by comparing the sequence data of the ITS region of closely related species.

We here present the partial results of a research project focusing on the lichen diversity and lichen-induced biodeterioration processes in two archaeological places -Siega Verde, Spain, and Foz-Côa, Portugal, both declared World Heritage sites by the UNESCO-. In this article the floristic results corresponding to the area of Siega Verde -Salamanca- are presented. In total, 97 taxa of lichens and two lichenicolous fungi have been identified. The presence of Peltula lobata J.Marques & al., Cyphelium lecideinum (Nyl.) Trevis., Variospora cancarixiticola (Nav.-Ros. & al.) Arup & al., and the lichenicolous fungus Llimoniella phaeophysciae Diederich & al. is particularly relevant. Somedifferences have been observed between the floristic composition of this area and that of the neighbor of Foz-Côa, attributable to the eutrophicationof Siega Verde.

Sixty taxa (59 species and 1 variety) of lichenized fungi are reported from a chestnut grove in Livari. The majority of them (55 species and 1 variety) occurred on Castanea sativa. The recently described Xylographa soralifera is new to the Balkan Peninsula. The lichenicolous fungus Monodictys epilepraria growing on Lepraria rigidula is new to Montenegro. The lichen mycota is compared with similar localities in Italy and Switzerland. The species composition in Livari is most similar to the Montieri site in Tuscany.

Arthonia parietinaria is described as new to science. Host of the type and at the same time the only confirmed host species is the foliose macrolichen Xanthoria parietina. Sequence data of nucLSU rRNA genes reveal a close relationship to Arthonia molendoi. A. parietinaria is recorded for many countries in Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa.

Note on Lichenostigma maureri Haf.: brief description, ecology and distribution. The species is very common in France but goes unnoticed and difficult to determine without the proper bibliography. The taxon is synonymous with its anamorph Phaerosporobolus usneae Hawks. et Haf., Note sur Lichenostigma maureri Haf.: brève description, écologie et répartition. L'espèce est très fréquente en France mais passe inaperçue, difficile à déterminer sans la bibliographie adéquate. Le taxon est synonyme de son anamorphe Phaerosporobolus usneae Hawks. et Haf.

Thirteen species and one variety of lichens, nine lichenicolous and two saprobic fungi are reported for the first time for St. Petersburg, the whole Leningrad Region or its western or eastern parts. The lichens Bacidina brandii, B. neosquamulosa, Porina leptalea, Rinodina aspersa and the lichenicolous fungus Scutula dedicata are reported for the first time for Russia, lichenicolous fungus Lichenoconium aeruginosum – for European Russia, the lichen Tetramelas chloroleucus , lichenicolous fungi Lichenoconium pyxidatae and Tremella cetrariicola are new for the North-Western European Russia. The most interesting records are briefly discussed.

Tremella anaptychiae, a lichenicolous fungus growing on Anaptychia ciliaris, is described as new. Both morphological and molecular data (DNA sequences from the ITS and 28S regions) are used to characterize and distinguish it from other Tremella s. l. species. Tremella anaptychiae is closely related to T. parmeliarum but comparatively distantly related to other previously recognized lichenicolous species groups.

Three new species of Graphidaceae are described as new to science from tropical Africa: Graphis aptrootiana Van den Broeck, Lücking & Ertz and Redingeria desseiniana Van den Broeck, Lücking & Ertz from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and G. vandenboomiana Ertz, Lücking & Van den Broeck from Reunion. A key is presented to all known species of Redingeria. The lichenicolous fungus Etayoa trypethelii is mentioned as new to Central Africa.