Five New Species of Allographa

Why in News?

Recently, Researchers from the MACS Agharkar Research Institute, Pune (DST) have discovered five new species of lichen‑forming fungi belonging to the genus Allographa in the Western Ghats.

Allographa

• Genus – Script lichens or lichen-forming fungi (a fungus that teams up with algae or cyanobacteria to create a lichen).
• Family – Graphidaceae.
• Traits – Elongated fruiting bodies; >200 species globally.
• Ecological Role – Sensitive to pollution and habitat changes indicators of forest health and environmental quality.
• Research Approach – Combined traditional taxonomy with molecular phylogenetics.

Molecular phylogenetics – Study of evolutionary relationships among biological entities using genetic data like DNA, RNA, and protein sequences.

• 1^st comprehensive molecular phylogenetic investigation of Allographa in Western Ghats.
• Phylogenetic Insights – Morphologically similar species not always closely related evolutionarily; molecular data clarified species boundaries.
• Methods – Morphological and chemical analyses + multi‑locus DNA sequencing using 3 genetic markers (mtSSU, nrLSU, RPB2).

New Species Identified

1. Allographa keralensis
2. Allographa nayakae
3. Allographa paraconsanguinea.
4. Allographa persistinspersa.
5. Allographa semicarbonisata.

New molecular data generated for known species – A. calcea, A. macella, A. aquilonia, A. rimulosa, A. effusosoredica.

​​​​​​​Reference

DST | Allographa