Diversity of Lichens—Morphology, Anatomy, Physiology, Secondary Chemistry, Distribution and Their Use: Recent Aspects of Evergreen Topics

Dear Colleagues,

Lichens are extremely diverse organisms. They are grouped in the main growth forms as fruticose, foliose and crustose, their characteristic colours are mostly due to their unique metabolites (almost a thousand!) and special anatomical structures. They are composed of 2–5 symbiotic partners, 1–3 mycobionts and 1–3 photobionts, increasing their internal diversity. As a consequence, the physiological adaptations of these partners ensure their colonisation in various habitats, resulting in a generally wide distribution area, which varies by taxa. Though our initial knowledge of lichens can be traced back through history to the ages before Christ, only the modern age and recently developed techniques and methodologies in the last few hundred years have resulted in a description of about 18–20 thousand taxa from the tropics to the arctics or from lowland steppes to alpine vegetation and various tundra regions. Recent high-end methods of analytical chemistry and molecular genetics combined with bioinformatics allow us to gain new insights into the above fields. Furthermore, the scientific approach to their application as medicines or as natural protection agents against pests and parasites is rapidly changing.

This Special Issue of Diversity provides an opportunity for a recent survey of evergreen topics—from reviews to current original research—the diversity of lichen morphology, anatomy, physiology and secondary chemistry, the distribution of lichens and their use, originating from studies applying advanced methods, the latest instruments and novel ideas. In this way, a real 21st century outline of the diversity of lichen-forming fungi will be available, representing the great diversity of their research fields.

Prof. Dr. Edit Farkas
Guest Editor

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