4
Lichen Secondary Metabolites
Lichens present pioneer organisms, which can live in extreme habitats. These
symbiotic organisms can deal with very specific conditions of environment because
they produce secondary metabolites, which provide them with a good protection
against various negative physical and biological influences [27]. As Lawrey [28]
described, lichens produce two main groups of metabolites: primary (intracellular)
Fig. 2 (a) SEM photo of lichen Usnea sp. (a) upper cortex, (b) medulla, (c) central cord, (b) light
microscopy (LM) photo of lichen Usnea sp. (a) upper cortex, (b) photosynthetic layer consisting of
green algae cortical metabolites, (c) medulla, (d) central cord, (c) cross section of lichen thallus
(Xanthoria parietina) in LM consisting of (a) upper cortex, (b) photosynthetic layer, (c) medulla,
(d) lower cortex
180
M. Goga et al.
Lichen Secondary Metabolites
Lichens present pioneer organisms, which can live in extreme habitats. These
symbiotic organisms can deal with very specific conditions of environment because
they produce secondary metabolites, which provide them with a good protection
against various negative physical and biological influences [27]. As Lawrey [28]
described, lichens produce two main groups of metabolites: primary (intracellular)
Fig. 2 (a) SEM photo of lichen Usnea sp. (a) upper cortex, (b) medulla, (c) central cord, (b) light
microscopy (LM) photo of lichen Usnea sp. (a) upper cortex, (b) photosynthetic layer consisting of
green algae cortical metabolites, (c) medulla, (d) central cord, (c) cross section of lichen thallus
(Xanthoria parietina) in LM consisting of (a) upper cortex, (b) photosynthetic layer, (c) medulla,
(d) lower cortex
180
M. Goga et al.