A team of researchers has discovered five new species of lichen-forming fungi belonging to the genus Allographa from the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats of India.
The findings have been published in the journal Mycological Progress and significantly expand scientific knowledge about the diversity of the genus Allographa in India.
About Allographa
- Allographa is a genus of script lichens, belonging to the fungal family Graphidaceae.
- Lichens are formed through a symbiotic association between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, such as algae or cyanobacteria.
- The genus is characterised by elongated fruiting bodies.
- It contains more than 200 species globally.
The discovery of these new species can help researchers identify ecologically sensitive areas, strengthen long-term environmental monitoring, and provide scientific evidence for biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management.
Molecular Taxonomy
Scientific knowledge of Allographa species in India remains limited, particularly in the Western Ghats, where many species have traditionally been identified mainly on the basis of morphological characteristics.
Researchers are now integrating molecular data with traditional taxonomy to better understand species diversity, evolutionary relationships, genetic variation, and lichen-forming symbiosis.
The study provides valuable molecular reference sequences that can support future taxonomic and evolutionary research.
The Western Ghats are one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots and harbour a high number of endemic and lesser-known species.
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