On 22 July 2026, scientists at MACS Agharkar Research Institute (autonomous under the Department of Science and Technology) described five new lichen-forming fungal species of the genus Allographa from the Western Ghats.
Genus and lichen basics
- Allographa: A genus of script lichens in the family Graphidaceae; characterised by lirelliform ascomata and carbonised exciple in many species.
- Lichen symbiosis: Composite organism of a mycobiont (fungus) and photobiont (alga or cyanobacterium).
New species described
- Species: Allographa keralensis, A. nayakae, A. paraconsanguinea, A. persistinspersa, A. semicarbonisata.
- Type locality: All collected from sites within the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
- Etymology: A. keralensis — named for Kerala; A. nayakae — honours lichenologist Sanjeeva Nayaka.
Methods and molecular markers
- Approach: Integrative taxonomy combining morphology and molecular phylogenetics.
- Markers used: mtSSU, nrLSU, RPB2 (multi-locus sequencing).
- Outcome: Molecular sequences provided species delimitation and phylogenetic placement within Allographa.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Western Ghats: UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
- Bioindicator role: Lichens are sensitive to air pollution and habitat change; used in monitoring programmes.
- Institutional: MACS Agharkar Research Institute functions as an autonomous DST institute focused on biodiversity and taxonomy.
- Publication: Taxonomic studies on fungi commonly appear in journals such as Mycological Progress.