In vitro lichen cultures and their production of metabolites

Abstract

Recent activities (1990-93) at Biology Laboratory, Kochi Gakuen College were briefly reviewed. These studies were financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research, no. 364244,and no. 2804059), Research scholarship from the Nippon Paint Company, and the Supporters' Association of Kochi Gakuen College. Material was obtained from various places in Japan and from the abroad (Canada, Continental United States of America, Hawaii, Finland. Sweden, and Germany). By using thallus fragments lichens can be cultured in vitro in the form of their bionts separately or together. Under very poor nutrition lichen cell aggregates of both bionts can form their thallus similar to the natural form. Characteristic lichen substances were sometimes produced in lichen cell aggregates or lichen mycobionts. Reformed thalli can produce the same characteristic lichen substances as in their natural thalli. By using lichen cell aggregates many biological approaches can be possible. A list of published papers as well as presented papers in several conferences was provided.