[Explanation] Recently, researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, after more than three years of research, published new research in the SCI-listed journal "Plant Taxonomy" published in New Zealand. As a result, it was confirmed that a usnea specimen collected from Jingdong County, Yunnan Province is a new species of lichen-Usnea sulphate.
[Explanation] At the Ailao Mountain Ecological Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Jingdong County, Yunnan Province, scientific researchers led reporters to find a newly discovered local clothing species-Usnea sulphate in a bush next to a reservoir.
According to reports, Usnea sulphate is the only ascus disc in the world that is sulfur-colored and is the most beautiful species in Usnea.
[Explanation] In 2017, Guo Shouyu, a Ph.D. from the State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Han Liufu, a professor from the College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, and others visited Ailao Mountain in Jingdong County, Yunnan Province and discovered this lichen in the wild. For the new species, they collected multiple specimens twice and brought them back to the laboratory for further research.
[Concurrent] Guo Shouyu, PhD, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
It mainly constructs a phylogenetic tree from the morphological, anatomical and chemical characteristics and geographic distribution, combined with the specific sequence of a specific DNA barcode, and compares the sequences of multiple specimens, and finally determines that Usnea sulphate is a new species, which is very likely to be a lament. The endemic species of mountains or tropical and subtropical regions in Southeast Asia, containing usnic acid, a secondary metabolite of specific lichens, and some other special metabolites
[Explanation] Usnea is an important group of lichen plants, and lichen is a special kind of organism that symbiosis with fungi and algae. It has no roots, stems, and leaves. It can live in various environments and is called "biosphere. Pioneer".
According to scientific researchers, there are currently more than 3,000 lichen species recorded in China, while the currently recorded lichen species in Yunnan are about 1,600 to 1,800. The discovery of these new species of lichen is important for biodiversity research and future benefits to human health. It is of great significance.
[Concurrent] Li Su, Associate Researcher, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lichen is very sensitive to changes in air quality. If we see that this (ground clothing) species has become less, it means that the air quality of the environment has declined. Another, Usnea is the most important ingredient in usnic acid, usnic acid. The acid compound has been widely studied abroad, such as (used in) what we often call anti-leukemia and anti-tumor, and it has been found to have a very good application prospect.
He Yougang and He Shuting report from Yunnan Pu'er
Editor in charge: 【Luo Pan】