Researchers from the MACS Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, have discovered five new species of lichen-forming fungi from the genus Allographa in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. The team conducted extensive field surveys across tropical forest habitats and employed an integrated approach combining traditional taxonomic methods with modern molecular phylogenetics using three genetic markers: mtSSU, nrLSU, and RPB2. This represents the first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic investigation of Allographa species from the Western Ghats.
The study resulted in the formal description of five new species: Allographa keralensis (named after Kerala state), A. nayakae (honoring Indian lichenologist Dr. Sanjeeva Nayaka), A. paraconsanguinea, A. persistinspersa, and A. semicarbonisata. Additionally, the researchers 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 morphologically similar species are not necessarily closely related evolutionarily, highlighting the limitations of relying solely on external morphology for species identification.
The research, published in the journal Mycological Progress, significantly expands knowledge of Allographa diversity in India and provides valuable molecular reference sequences for future taxonomic and evolutionary investigations. The findings emphasize the Western Ghats as an important center of lichen diversity harboring numerous previously undocumented species. The study also compiled an updated checklist of Allographa species reported from the Western Ghats with information on molecular sequence data availability, establishing a baseline for future biodiversity assessments and conservation planning. As lichens are important indicators of forest health and environmental quality due to their sensitivity to pollution and habitat changes, this research can help identify ecologically sensitive areas and contribute to evidence-based conservation policies and sustainable forest management.