Toxic effects of the thallus of the lichen Cladonia foliacea on the growthand morphogenesis of bryophytes

In this paper the effects induced by the whole thallus of the lichen Cladon ia foliacea on the growth and development of some mosses (Funaria hygrometr ica, Bryum dunense, Pleurchaete squarrosa) and the liverwort Lunularia cruc iata, have been studied. The main effects induced by Cladonia thalli during periods of co-existence in vitro with gametophytes is a delay in the regen eration of new filaments asssociated with the inhibition of their growth to gether with a global decrement in the number of gametophores. Other alterat ions at cytoplasm level are a granular appearance of cytoplasm and many mic rovesicles in the newly-regenerated filaments, enlarged periplasmic space a nd changes in chloroplast shape. Current results are compared to previous d ata obtained with pure substances isolated from C. foliacea thalli. (C) ADA C / Elsevier, Paris.