The genus Lichenoconium (Lichenoconiaceae, Ascomycota) in Ukraine

Abstract

Revision of Ukrainian Lichenoconium specimens is provided. This genus is characterized by immersed to semiimmersed black globose conidiomata, phialidic hyaline conidiogenous cells and olive to brown simple conidia. Seven species of the genus are reported from the territory of Ukraine. These are L. aeruginosum, L. erodens, L. lecanorae, L. lichenicola, L. pyxidatae, L. usneae and L. xanthoriae. These species were found on thalli and apothecia of 18 different genera of lichens. Lichenoconium aeruginosum, L. lichenicola and L. pyxidatae have clear host specificity and grow only on one host genus. Other four species do not have host specificity. Lichenoconium erodens and L. lecanorae are widespread in Ukraine. Lichenoconium usneae is reported for the first time from the steppe zone of Ukraine. Seirophora lacunosa is a new host species of L. usneae. New localities of L. lichenicola and discussion about older dubious records are presented. Investigated Licheniconium species has parasitic life-strategy and affected the lichens that have mechanical damage or those weakened by other lichenicolous fungi. Lichenoconium pyxidatae and Didymocyrtis cladoniicola play an important role in regulating the populations of Cladonia foliacea in the Lower Dnipro sands. This phenomenon is known as "phomosis of Cladonia". Description, host lichens species, data about distribution in Ukraine, examined specimens and notes are provided for each species. An original identification key for Ukrainian species of Lichenoconium is given.

Pronectria gromakovae, a new lichenicolous fungus on Lecanora populicola and notes on other records from Kharkiv region (Ukraine)

“…Physcia stellaris is a new host species. This species was reported only from the steppe zone of Ukraine (Darmostuk andKhodosovtsev 2017, Khodosovtsev et al 2019b). This record is new for the forest-steppe zone.…”

“…Katherinomyces cetrariae was described on Cetraria aculeata from Kherson region . Further research has shown that the species is not host specific and can infect other Parmeliaceae species as well as Lecidea fuscoatra and Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca (Darmostuk andKhodosovtsev 2019, Zhurbenko et al 2020).…”

“…from Gaidary village (Kondratyuk and Khodosovtsev 1997). Currently, only 17 species of lichenicolous fungi were reported from the Kharkiv region (Darmostuk andKhodosovtsev 2017, Gromakova 2018). Currently, 277 species of lichenicolous fungi were reported from Ukraine (Darmostuk unpubl.…”

Notes to lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi in Ukraine I.

“…This coelomycetes fungus most likely common, but not frequently collected. Confirmed records are known only from Kherson region [DARMOSTUK, 2019]. New for the Mykolaiv region.…”

Additions to the lichenicolous mycobiota of Ukraine: the genus Zwackhiomyces (Xanthopyreniaceae, Collemopsidiales)

“…& Syd. та Lichenostigma Hafellner (Kondratyuk, 2005;Pirogov et al, 2014;Darmostuk, 2016Darmostuk, , 2019.…”