INVESTIGATION OF MORPHO-ANATOMICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERISTICS UNCOVERS FOUR CRUSTOSE LICHENS ADDING NEW RECORDS FOR PAKISTAN

Abstract

The discovery of new lichen species worldwide greatly enhances basic biodiversity research and informs their prospective applications in ecological, pharmacological, and environmental fields. Nonetheless, extensive areas of the world—especially in South Asia—are under-investigated for lichen diversity, resulting in considerable deficiencies in both regional and global taxonomic databases. The Kaghan Valley in northern Pakistan, characterised by its unusual topography and diverse weather conditions, is an understudied region. This study records lichen species from this region that are new to Pakistan. We employed a thorough taxonomic approach that included macroscopic and microscopic morphological evaluations, standard chemical spot tests, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for secondary metabolite characterization, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis using molecular markers. Utilizing this extensive methodology, we identified four species: Lecidea lactea, Lecanora formosa, Rufoplaca arenaria, and Umbilicaria decussata, which are classified within the families Lecanoraceae, Lecideaceae, Teloschistaceae, and Umbilicariaceae, respectively. We offer comprehensive taxonomy annotations, morphological characterisations, and molecular phylogenetic diagrams that substantiate these identifications. This study enhances the existing catalogue of Pakistan's lichen flora and emphasises the necessity of employing diverse evidence to clarify species identities in inadequately explored areas.