Molecular characterization of bacteria associated with lichens present in the state of Guanajuato.

Lichens are complex associations constituted mainly by a mycobiont and a photobiont, several analyzes have shown the presence of bacteria associated with said symbiosis, however, in Guanajuato, research at this level is scarce. The objective of this study was to isolate and molecularly identify bacteria of different genera associated with lichens in the state of Guanajuato. A random sampling of 21 lichens was carried out in the protected natural area "Las Palomas" and they were identified morphologically and chemically, from these the bacteria were isolated and identified in different solid culture media. The isolates obtained were identified by Gram staining and 16S rDNA gene sequencing. 8 foliose lichens, 7 fruticose and 6 crustose, were recorded, of which the genera Punctelia, Cladonia and Lepraria stand out. Of the 34 isolated bacterial strains, the Proteobacteria phylum was found to be the most abundant (58.82%), followed by Firmicutes (32.35%) and Actinobacteria (8.82%), mainly from foliose and fruticose lichens. Genera such as Mesorhizobium sp. and Stutzerimonas sp. The description of bacteria associated to lichens contributes to the knowledge of the probable functions that they perform within lichens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]