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UV-B induces usnic acid in reindeer lichens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2006

Line NYBAKKEN  and
Riitta JULKUNEN-TIITTO
Line NYBAKKEN
Affiliation:
Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Box 5003, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, N-1432 Ås, Norway
Riitta JULKUNEN-TIITTO
Affiliation:
Natural Products Research Laboratories, Department of Biology, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland
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Abstract

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Induction of secondary compounds in three reindeer lichens (Cladonia arbuscula, C. rangiferina and C. stellaris) was studied under controlled conditions in a growth chamber. Acetone rinsed (secondary compounds removed) lichen mats were subjected to three light regimes (PAR, PAR+UV-A and PAR+UV-A+UV-B), each combined with simulated herbivory (clipping). After 4 weeks, lichen extracts were analyzed by HPLC for any synthesized secondary compounds. UV-B induced the synthesis of usnic acid in C. arbuscula and C. stellaris and melanic pigments in C. rangiferina. Atranorin, fumarprotocetraric acid and perlatolic acid were not influenced by light quality. None of the identified compounds were significantly influenced by clipping. In conclusion, all three lichen species responded to UV-B radiation by developing cortical UV-B absorbing pigments that might function as protective screens. However, the experiment did not produce evidence for a herbivore-deterrent role of compounds studied.

Keywords

atronorinCladonia spp.fumarprotocetraric acidherbivorymelaninperlatolic acid
Type
Research Article
Information
The Lichenologist , Volume 38 , Issue 5 , September 2006 , pp. 477 - 485
Copyright
© British Lichen Society 2006