Four primers for the amplification of mitochondrial DNA of lichenforming ascomycetes are presented. The primers match the conserved regions U2, U4, and U6, respectively, of mitochondrial small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Polymerase chain reaction using different combinations of the primers produced single amplification products from DNA of eight lichen-forming fungal species but did not amplify DNA of two axenic cultured algal species. The amplification product obtained from Lobaria pulmonaria was sequenced and the 894-bp sequence was compared with the mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequence of Podospora anserine. The two sequences revealed more than 76% identity in the conserved regions U3 to U5 demonstrating that we amplified mitochondrial DNA. The primers matching U2 and U6 yielded amplification products of 800–1000 bp depending on the species examined. The variation observed suggests that mitochondrial SSU rDNA may be useful for phylogenetic analyses of lichen-forming ascomycetes.

Paraquat-treatment of Parmotrema reticulatum and high light levels in the habitat of Pamtelia sulcata can cause oxidative stress, which promotes an increase in ascorbic acid contents of thalli. Ascorbic acid was measured by an HPLC method. In P. reticulatum the increase was more pronounced in summer than in other seasons. In P. sulcata, thalli growing in sun-exposed habitats showed a higher ascorbic acid content than shade-growingspecimens.

A total of 69 species of lichens have been collected from various locations around New Zealand. Screening of extracts of these species for antimicrobial, antiviral and cytotoxic activity showed a high proportion with biological activity. Active extracts were generally from species known to contain phenolic compounds. Bioactivity-directed isolation work on Cladia retipora, Pseudocyphellaria glabra and P. homoeophylla led to the identification of usnic acid as the main antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antiviral component in these three species.

Factors affecting the outcome of a PCR is discussed. Nested PCR is described and a protocol that has been shown to work well for the amplification of ribosomal genes in ascomycetes is described. It is claimed that DNA extracts of lichenized fungi, contrary to many other organism groups, are often contaminated by other fungi. This poses a problem due to the preferential amplification of short intron-lacking sequences over longer, intron-containing ones, particularly when extension time is limited. A simple protocol for optimizing and troubleshooting PCRs is presented.

RNase activity in Lasallia hispanica, Parmelia omphalodes and Cornicularia normoerica collected at different times and in different habitats, have shown variability that cannot be solely attributable to variation in habitat or season. Electromorph pattern of RNase activity in L. hispanica and C. normoerica, showed variations among different collection times; some bands are constant but other showed high variability, which could be related to physiological changes. It is also noteworthy that in both species one band is exclusively present in thalli from one of the sampling localities. This could be the result of an adaptation to this habitat and/or due to genetic differences.