Lichenochora Atrans

''Lichenochora'' is a genus of fungi in the family Phyllachoraceae. It has 44 species. All species in the genus are lichenicolous, meaning they grow parasitically on lichens. The genus was circumscribed by Josef Hafellner in 1989, with '' Lichenochora thallina'' assigned as the type species.

Description

''Lichenochora'' fungi form tiny, flask-shaped reproductive structures called perithecia that are typically 0.15-0.3 mm in diameter. The perithecia are embedded within small swellings or galls that they cause to form in their host lichen's body (thallus). Only the dark-coloured openings of these structures are visible on the surface.

The walls of the perithecia are brown in colour and made up of several layers of flattened cells. Inside each perithecium are microscopic sac-like structures called asci, which contain the fungal spores. A distinctive feature of ''Lichenochora'' is that each ascus contains either four or eight spores, depending on the species. The spores themselves are colourless (hyaline) and divided into two cells.

Another characteristic feature is the presence of numerous oil droplets (lipid droplets) within various parts of the fungal structure, including the spores and the tissue surrounding them. The genus also has specialised filaments called around the opening of the perithecia, which often have swollen outer walls and may be slightly brown at the tips.

All known species of ''Lichenochora'' are highly specific about which lichens they parasitise, with most species only growing on particular genera or species of lichens. They show a particular preference for lichens in the family Physciaceae. While these fungi are technically parasites, they typically do not severely damage their host lichens, though they may cause some localised tissue death and discolouration where they grow. The species in the can be distinguished from each other by characteristics such as spore size and shape, the number of spores per ascus, and which lichen species they parasitise.

Genera

, Species Fungorum (in teh Catalogue of Life) accept 47 species of ''Lichenochora'':

*'' Lichenochora acutispora''
*'' Lichenochora aipoliae''
*'' Lichenochora ajaysinghii''
*'' Lichenochora aprica''
*''Lichenochora arctica''
*'' Lichenochora atrans''
*'' Lichenochora bacidiispora''
*'' Lichenochora bellemerei''
*'' Lichenochora caloplacae''
*'' Lichenochora chimaerica''
*'' Lichenochora clauzadei''
*'' Lichenochora coarctatae''
*'' Lichenochora collematum''
*'' Lichenochora constrictella''
*'' Lichenochora coppinsii''
*'' Lichenochora elegans''
*'' Lichenochora epidesertorum''
*'' Lichenochora epifulgens''
*'' Lichenochora epimarmorata''
*'' Lichenochora epinashii''
*'' Lichenochora gahavisukae''
*'' Lichenochora galligena''
*'' Lichenochora haematommatum''
*'' Lichenochora heppiae''
*'' Lichenochora hypanica''
*'' Lichenochora hyperphysciae''
*'' Lichenochora inconspicua''
*'' Lichenochora lecidellae''
*''Lichenochora lepidiotae''
*'' Lichenochora makareviczae''
*'' Lichenochora mediterraneae''
*'' Lichenochora monegrina''
*''Lichenochora obscuroides''
*'' Lichenochora paucispora''
*'' Lichenochora physciicola''
*'' Lichenochora polycoccoides''
*'' Lichenochora pyrenodesmiae''
*'' Lichenochora rinodinae''
*'' Lichenochora sedelnikoviorum''
*'' Lichenochora sinapispermae''
*'' Lichenochora tertia''
*'' Lichenochora thallina''
*'' Lichenochora thorii''
*'' Lichenochora verrucicola''
*'' Lichenochora wasseri''
*'' Lichenochora weillii''
*'' Lichenochora xanthoriae''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q6543231

Phyllachorales
Sordariomycetes genera
Lichenicolous fungi
Taxa named by Josef Hafellner
Taxa described in 1989