Usnic Acid and Atranorin Concentrations in Lichens in Relation to Bands of UV Irradiance

Abstract

Using spectral filters, Cladonia uncialis and Cladina rangiferina were exposed for seven days to visible light supplemented with two intensities of three different bands of ultraviolet in a growth chamber. The concentrations of lichen secondary products separated by thin-layer chromatography were then determined densitometrically. In Cladonia uncialis, higher intensity exposure to visible light enhanced with UV-A, while UV-B and UV-C were excluded, significantly increased usnic acid concentrations over control levels. However, less usnic acid accumulated under high intensity enhancement of both UV-A and UV-B. The effect of supplemental UV-A and UV-B was the same on atranorin concentrations in Cladina rangiferina. This suggested that UV-A caused increased accumulation of both compounds, but that the effect was negated by UV-B. Concentrations of usnic acid in natural populations of Cladina mitis were significantly lower in spring and summer when UV-B flux is greatest.