A Role for Secondary Metabolites in Desiccation Tolerance in Lichens
In lichens, secondary metabolites have been shown to protect against biotic stresses such as pathogen attacks and grazing, and abiotic stresses such as ultraviolet (UV) and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Lichen secondary metabolites are known to have strong antioxidant activity, and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Research |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/15/1/16 |
| _version_ | 1797240033363623936 |
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| author | Nqobile Truelove Ndhlovu Farida Minibayeva Richard Peter Beckett |
| author_facet | Nqobile Truelove Ndhlovu Farida Minibayeva Richard Peter Beckett |
| author_sort | Nqobile Truelove Ndhlovu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In lichens, secondary metabolites have been shown to protect against biotic stresses such as pathogen attacks and grazing, and abiotic stresses such as ultraviolet (UV) and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Lichen secondary metabolites are known to have strong antioxidant activity, and while theoretically they may have roles in tolerance to other abiotic stresses, these roles remain largely unclear. Here, we used the acetone rinsing method to harmlessly remove most of the secondary metabolites from the thalli of six lichen species. This enabled us to compare the effects of desiccation on thalli with and without the presence of secondary metabolites. Results showed that in general, the presence of lichen substances reduces the effects of desiccation stress. For all species, substances significantly improved the photosystem two (PSII) activity of the photobiont during either desiccation or rehydration. In the mycobiont, in four of the six species, the presence of substances reduced membrane damage, which was assessed by measuring ion leakage during rehydration following desiccation. However, in one species, secondary metabolites had no effect, while in another the presence of substances increased membrane damage. Nevertheless, it seems clear that in addition to their more established roles in protecting lichens against pathogen attacks and grazing, lichen substances can also play a role in aiding desiccation tolerance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:01:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eff9527d9dad4f4aadef6e5d702237b4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2036-7481 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:01:00Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-eff9527d9dad4f4aadef6e5d702237b42024-03-27T13:54:51ZengMDPI AGMicrobiology Research2036-74812024-01-0115122523510.3390/microbiolres15010016A Role for Secondary Metabolites in Desiccation Tolerance in LichensNqobile Truelove Ndhlovu0Farida Minibayeva1Richard Peter Beckett2School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South AfricaKazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Federal Research Center “Kazan Scientific Center of RAS”, P.O. Box 261, 420111 Kazan, RussiaSchool of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South AfricaIn lichens, secondary metabolites have been shown to protect against biotic stresses such as pathogen attacks and grazing, and abiotic stresses such as ultraviolet (UV) and high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Lichen secondary metabolites are known to have strong antioxidant activity, and while theoretically they may have roles in tolerance to other abiotic stresses, these roles remain largely unclear. Here, we used the acetone rinsing method to harmlessly remove most of the secondary metabolites from the thalli of six lichen species. This enabled us to compare the effects of desiccation on thalli with and without the presence of secondary metabolites. Results showed that in general, the presence of lichen substances reduces the effects of desiccation stress. For all species, substances significantly improved the photosystem two (PSII) activity of the photobiont during either desiccation or rehydration. In the mycobiont, in four of the six species, the presence of substances reduced membrane damage, which was assessed by measuring ion leakage during rehydration following desiccation. However, in one species, secondary metabolites had no effect, while in another the presence of substances increased membrane damage. Nevertheless, it seems clear that in addition to their more established roles in protecting lichens against pathogen attacks and grazing, lichen substances can also play a role in aiding desiccation tolerance.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/15/1/16lichen substancesdesiccationmembrane damagechlorophyll fluorescence |
| spellingShingle | Nqobile Truelove Ndhlovu Farida Minibayeva Richard Peter Beckett A Role for Secondary Metabolites in Desiccation Tolerance in Lichens Microbiology Research lichen substances desiccation membrane damage chlorophyll fluorescence |
| title | A Role for Secondary Metabolites in Desiccation Tolerance in Lichens |
| title_full | A Role for Secondary Metabolites in Desiccation Tolerance in Lichens |
| title_fullStr | A Role for Secondary Metabolites in Desiccation Tolerance in Lichens |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Role for Secondary Metabolites in Desiccation Tolerance in Lichens |
| title_short | A Role for Secondary Metabolites in Desiccation Tolerance in Lichens |
| title_sort | role for secondary metabolites in desiccation tolerance in lichens |
| topic | lichen substances desiccation membrane damage chlorophyll fluorescence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/15/1/16 |
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