An integrative study of Pannaria hookeri (Ascomycota lichenized) from Argentina and the update of the taxon circumscription based on specimens from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

• Published in: Acta Botanica Brasilica
• Main Authors: Marcos Junji Kitaura, Mayara Camila Scur, Adriano Afonso Spielmann, Aline Pedroso Lorenz
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Botânica do Brasil 2022
• Subjects: species circumscription; cyanolichen; lichenized fungi; nuITS; taxonomy; Tierra del Fuego; Botany; QK1-989; Argentina; Norway; Alaska
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-33062021abb0357; https://doaj.org/article/3d59d99fa2714ebaaae73617751a4ffa

ABSTRACT Pannaria hookeri (Borrer ex Sm.) Nyl. is reported as a bipolar cyanolichen that occurs in more than twenty countries in both Hemispheres. In the Northern Hemisphere, a minor variation is attributed to the species, whereas larger morphological and chemical variations have been reported in specimens from the Southern Hemisphere. Six P. hookeri DNA sequences are available in GenBank, and only one (from Australia) is associated with a published morphological description. In this study, we performed a preliminary phylogenetic analysis including seven nuITS and mtSSU sequences from eight specimens collected in south Argentina. In addition, we provide an update of the taxon circumscription based on 50 specimens from 13 countries. Here, the molecular analyses revealed a well-supported monophyletic group formed by the P. hookeri sequences from Argentina, Australia, Norway and USA (Alaska). Regarding the morphological and anatomical characteristics, the Southern Hemisphere specimens did not present the historical reported variations, resulting in the proposition of a concise species description that accomplishes most of P. hookeri known geographical distribution.