Infraspecific variation of some brown Parmeliae (in Poland) - a comparison of ITS rDNA and non-molecular characters Author Szczepanska, Katarzyna https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7752-3024 Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 24 a, PL- 50 - 363 Wroclaw, Poland katarzyna.szczepanska@upwr.edu.pl Author Guzow-Krzeminska, Beata https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0805-7987 Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, PL- 80 - 308 Gdansk, Poland Author Urbaniak, Jacek https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1300-0873 Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 24 a, PL- 50 - 363 Wroclaw, Poland text MycoKeys 2021 2021-12-22 85 127 160 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.85.70552 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.85.70552 1314-4049-85-127 9BE6BB9F2C2850CD9A64958C2F3D777A Melanelia agnata (Nyl.) A. Thell Platysma agnatum Nova Hedwigia 60:416 (1995) ≡ Platysma agnatum Nyl., Flora, Jena 60:562 (1877) ≡ Cetraria agnata (Nyl.) Kristinsson, Lichenologist 6:144 (1974). Description. M. agnata has foliose thallus with flat, smooth, 0.25-2 mm broad lobes which are thicker on the margins and rounded at the ends ( Szczepanska and Kossowska 2017 ). The upper surface is glossy, olive-brown to dark brown. The lower surface is pale brown to dark brown in the centre, with single, dark rhizines. M. agnata possess pseudocyphellae which are larger on the lobe margins and smaller, punctiform on the upper surface of the lobes. Pycnidia are mainly marginal to laminal, partially immersed and globose with hyaline bacilliform conidia (4.5-5.5 x 1 µm ). Apothecia are not seen in examined material. Chemistry. No secondary metabolites were detected by TLC. Distribution. M. agnata is a rare taxon occurring in arctic and boreal regions in North America and Europe, growing in open stands on siliceous and basalt rocks ( Otte et al. 2005 ). Available molecular data concern samples collected only in North America (Greenland) and North Europe (Iceland, Norway). Haplotypes differentiation. Six different haplotypes were identified in M. agnata (n = 10), of which two Polish specimens, collected in the Karpaty Mountains, have the same, not previously known, haplotype (Fig. 3 , Table 2 ). It differs from other haplotypes in at least seven positions. However, the remaining specimens originate from Greenland, Iceland or Norway and no other samples from Central Europe have been sequenced until now. Four Icelandic specimens have the same haplotype, which is similar to the haplotype from Norwegian specimens. In contrast, Icelandic haplotypes differ from Greenlandic haplotypes in at least eight positions. Whether their genetic diversity supports conclusions from previous papers suggesting potentially unrecognised species lineages in the M. agnata genus ( Leavitt et al. 2014 ; Xu et al. 2017 ) remains unresolved and should be further studied. Figure 3. Haplotype network, based on ITS rDNA sequences from specimens of Melanelia agnata . Newly-generated sequences are described with isolate numbers preceding the species names. Sequences downloaded from GenBank are described with their accession numbers. Mutational changes are presented as numbers in brackets near lines between haplotypes.