Genome Architecture, Secondary Metabolite Profiles, and Morphological Diversity in the Cladonia chlorophaea Group
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Jessica Allen
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
5-8-2024 11:15 AM
End Date
5-8-2024 1:00 PM
Location
PUB NCR
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Biology
Abstract
The charismatic, abundant, and ecologically important genus Cladonia includes more than 500 accepted species and has a global distribution. The species-level taxonomy in Cladonia has long proved challenging, partially due to the extensive phenotypic plasticity displayed by many taxa. Some plasticity has recently been shown to be attributable to photobiont identity. In Cladonia, examples of essential morphological features used in species delimitation include podetia structure and size, soredia or apothecia presence, and squamule duration. The Cladonia chlorophaea group, composed of a variety of sorediate, cup forming Cladonia, poses a particular taxonomic challenge. Delimitation schemes range from many different stand-alone species with sharp delineations to a few broad, inclusive species under whose umbrella fall various chemotypes and morphological variants. We hypothesize that more robust species delineations lie somewhere in the middle and can be supported with comprehensive analyses of morphological measurements, secondary metabolite profiles, and whole genomes. The purpose of this inquiry into Cladonia chlorophaea is to provide an integrative analysis among three data types, with a special emphasis on comparative genomics. Using the Oxford Nanopore MinION platform, we sequenced full genomes of two Cladonia chlorophaea specimens, which were then assembled and annotated using standard protocols. Secondary metabolites were identified via thin-layer chromatography in solvent C. Scanning electron and light microscopy were used to characterize and quantify morphological traits. This study provides one piece of the taxonomic puzzle that is Cladonia chlorophaea and presents a clear path to providing a complete species description, not just for Cladonia, but for all lichens.
Recommended Citation
Mumey, Devin M. and Allen, Jessica L., "Genome Architecture, Secondary Metabolite Profiles, and Morphological Diversity in the Cladonia chlorophaea Group" (2024). 2024 Symposium. 10.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2024/ps_2024/p2_2024/10
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Genome Architecture, Secondary Metabolite Profiles, and Morphological Diversity in the Cladonia chlorophaea Group
PUB NCR
The charismatic, abundant, and ecologically important genus Cladonia includes more than 500 accepted species and has a global distribution. The species-level taxonomy in Cladonia has long proved challenging, partially due to the extensive phenotypic plasticity displayed by many taxa. Some plasticity has recently been shown to be attributable to photobiont identity. In Cladonia, examples of essential morphological features used in species delimitation include podetia structure and size, soredia or apothecia presence, and squamule duration. The Cladonia chlorophaea group, composed of a variety of sorediate, cup forming Cladonia, poses a particular taxonomic challenge. Delimitation schemes range from many different stand-alone species with sharp delineations to a few broad, inclusive species under whose umbrella fall various chemotypes and morphological variants. We hypothesize that more robust species delineations lie somewhere in the middle and can be supported with comprehensive analyses of morphological measurements, secondary metabolite profiles, and whole genomes. The purpose of this inquiry into Cladonia chlorophaea is to provide an integrative analysis among three data types, with a special emphasis on comparative genomics. Using the Oxford Nanopore MinION platform, we sequenced full genomes of two Cladonia chlorophaea specimens, which were then assembled and annotated using standard protocols. Secondary metabolites were identified via thin-layer chromatography in solvent C. Scanning electron and light microscopy were used to characterize and quantify morphological traits. This study provides one piece of the taxonomic puzzle that is Cladonia chlorophaea and presents a clear path to providing a complete species description, not just for Cladonia, but for all lichens.
