INVESTIGATIONS ON LICHEN SYNTHESIS

A hmadjian , V. (Clark U., Worcester, Mass.) Investigations on lichen synthesis. Amer. Jour. Bot. 49(3): 277–283. Illus. 1962.—Separated fungal and algal components of the lichen, Acarospora fuscata (Nyl.) Am., were recombined under controlled laboratory conditions to form structures comparable to those of the naturally occurring lichen thallus. The primary condition for this artificial synthesis was the absence of organic and inorganic supplements to the agar substrate. Thus, in effect, the mycobiont was forced into union with the phycobiont. It was demonstrated that both alga and fungus derived benefit from the lichenized association.