Scientists discover five new species of Allographa in Western Ghats

• Researchers from the MACS Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), discovered five new species of lichen-forming fungi belonging to the genus Allographa from the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats of India.

• Allographa is an important indicator of forest health and environmental quality because of their sensitivity to pollution and habitat changes.

• The scientists combined traditional taxonomic methods with modern molecular phylogenetics to reassess species diversity and evolutionary relationships within one of the most diverse genera of the lichen family Graphidaceae.

Highlights of the study:

• Allographa is a widespread genus of script lichens (lichen-forming fungi) in the family Graphidaceae, known for their elongated, snake-like fruiting bodies.

• It has more than 200 species. 

• Molecular knowledge of Allographa species from India, is limited, particularly from the Western Ghats, where many species had been identified primarily on morphological grounds. 

• Scientists are trying to integrate molecular data with traditional taxonomy, to better understand species diversity, evolutionary relationships, and lichen symbiosis in this globally important biodiversity hotspot.

• The study resulted in the discovery and description of five new species: 

i) Allographa keralensis, named after the state of Kerala.

ii) A. nayakae, honoring Indian lichenologist Dr Sanjeeva Nayaka.

iii) A. paraconsanguinea

iv) A. persistinspersa

v) A. semicarbonisata. 

• In addition, the authors generated new molecular data for several previously known species, including A. calcea, A. macella, A. aquilonia, A. rimulosa, and A. effusosoredica.

• Phylogenetic analyses revealed that several morphologically similar species are not necessarily closely related evolutionarily, underscoring the limitations of relying solely on external morphology for species identification. 

• The molecular data helped clarify the placement of both newly discovered and previously known taxa, providing a more robust framework for understanding species relationships within Allographa and highlighted the need for additional molecular data and broader sampling in future studies.

• The research published in the journal Mycological Progress significantly expands current knowledge of Allographa diversity in India and provides valuable molecular reference sequences for future taxonomic and evolutionary investigations. 

• The findings also emphasize the Western Ghats as an important centre of lichen diversity, harboring numerous previously undocumented species. 

• By integrating molecular evidence with classical taxonomy, the study contributes to a more accurate understanding of species boundaries and biodiversity within the Graphidaceae.