Economic Importance of Lichens – An Overview | Lichenology

In this article we will discuss about economic importance of lichens

Economic Importance of Lichens

  • Lichens are symbiotic association with fungi and algae.
  • They hold considerable significance in the economy and are contribute to various industries.
  • The economic importance of lichens can be categorized into two main parts: beneficial aspects and harmful aspects.
  • Beneficial Aspects: Lichens as food, lichens as fodder, medicinal use, industry, pioneer colonizers and indicators of pollution
  • Harmful Aspects: Harmful to plants, cause forest fires and damage man made structures etc.

1. Lichens as Food

  • Lichens used as food because they are rich in polysaccharides, vitamins and some enzymes.
  • Cetraria islandica (Iceland moss) is consumed in Norway, Sweden, Iceland and other Scandinavian countries.
  • Various species of Parmelia (Rock flower) are used for curry preparation in India.
  • Evernia prunastri was used as baking powder by the Egyptians.
  • In France, lichens are used for making chocolates and pastries.
  • Lecanora esculenta (Manna lichen) is consumed by desert tribes in Asia Minor.
Examples of Edible Lichens

2. Lichens as Fodder

  • Lichens such as Lobaria pulmonaria, Evernia prunastri, Ramalina fraxinea, and R. fastigiata are utilized as fodder for cattle.
  • Cladonia rangiferina (Reindeer Moss) are used as fodder for musk oxen, caribou, reindeer, and various wild animals.
  • Cetraria islandica (Iceland moss) is used as fodder for horses.
  • Numerous animals including mites, caterpillars, termites, snails, and slugs are partially or entirely depends on lichens for their diet.
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3. Medicinal Use

  • Some lichens used in traditional medicine to treat fever, jaundice, skin diseases, epilepsy etc.
  • A mucilaginous substance extract from Cetraria islandica is used as a laxative.
  • Protolochesterinic acid, obtained from select lichens, is utilized in the formulation of anti-cancer medications.
  • Rocella montagnei is used to treat angina (Chest pain).

4. Industrial Uses

  • Various types of lichens used across multiple industries.
  • Orchil, a blue dye derived from Roccella and Lecanora, is used for dyeing woolen products and silk textiles.
  • Litmus, another widely used dye in chemical laboratories, serves as an acid-base indicator and is obtained from Rocella montagnei.
  • Lichens such as Lobaria pulmonaria are used in the brewing industries (Beer making)
  • In Russia and Sweden, the Usnea florida, Cladonia rangiferina and Ramalina fraxinea are used in alcohol production due to their high content of lichenin, a carbohydrate.
  • Lecanora esculenta, found in limestone deserts, produces significant amounts of calcium oxalate crystals.
  • Evernia, Ramalina, and Pseudorina are contain fragrant volatile oils, which are used to various cosmetic products, perfumes, and incense materials.

5. Pioneer colonizers

  • Lichens are recognized as pioneers in the establishment of vegetation on bare rocky surfaces.
  • They are the initial organisms to colonize the barren rocky area.
  • Throughout their growth, lichens contribute to the disintegration of rock (biological weathering) by producing acids such as oxalic and carbonic acid.
  • They play important role in nature by facilitating soil formation, a process known as pedogenesis.

6. Indicators of Pollution

  • Lichens are very sensitivity to pollution. So, they can be used as indicators of pollution.
  • They re very much sensitive to various air pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2).
  • After industrialization, numerous lichen species have become extinct in many areas of Britain. E.g., Usnea articulata.
  • Lichens are easily affected by sulphur dioxide because the algal partner in them suffer from loss of chlorophyll and reduced photosynthesis.
  • The shrubby and leafy lichens are the most sensitive to pollution, while crustose lichens has greater tolerance.
  • Lichens possess the ability to absorb water and mineral nutrients through their surface. So, they readily absorb a wide variety of toxic substances.
  • One of the ways lichens directly help humans by absorbing various substances from the air, particularly pollutants.
  • Heavy metals, carbon, sulfur, and other pollutants present in the air are absorbed into the lichen thallus.
  • Researchers can extract those toxins and determine the levels of air pollution in specific areas.
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7. Harmful Aspects

  • Lichens that grow on young fruit trees and sandalwood trees can be harmful to the plants.
  • Usnea barbarata can dry out and catch fire easily during hot season, which can lead to forest fires.
  • Cladonia rangifera and Cetraria islandica can accumulate significant amounts of radioactive strontium (Sr90) and cesium (Cs137) from nuclear fallout, which may enter the food chain, leading to their accumulation in human tissues.
  • Lichens can cause some damage to buildings and man-made structures, this process is gradual and does not pose an immediate threat to those substrates.

A dedicated lecturer in botany, a skilled writer and a talented visual artist from Tamil Nadu, India.

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