Polar Lichen photobionts

This study was performed to study the genetic structure of lichen photobionts. Photobionts of several polar lichen species were sequenced to see, whether genetic haplotypes of the photobionts are shared between different lichen species. Unfortunately none of the genetic sequences matched with our model organism Cetraria aculeata and a photobiont switching could not be proofed that way. Still the genetic sequences of the investigated lichen species may be of use for other studies. Sequencing was done for the marker Actin. The primers udes in the study were ACT1T and ACT4T (Kroken & Taylor 2000). Kroken, S. & Taylor, J.W., 2000. Phylogenetic species, reproductive mode, and specificity of the green alga Trebouxia forming lichens with the fungal genus Letharia. Bryologist, 103, 645-660.