Chemical Composition and Ions Concentration in Xanthoria parietina and Phaeophyscia orbicularis Lichenised Fungi Species from Iasi, North-Eastern Romania

Concentrations of water soluble inorganic and organic anions released by the sonication of lichenised fungi thalli in ultrapure water were investigated in the present study. Samples of Xanthoria parietina and Phaeophyscia orbicularis lichenised fungi species were collected between May and December 2011 from three locations in Iasi (Tudor Vladimirescu, Bucium and Red Bridge), north-eastern Romania. Inorganic anions such as chloride (Cl-) nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), phosphate (PO4-), sulphate (SO42-), and organic anions such as formate (HCO2-), acetate (H3C2O2-) and oxalate (C2O42-) were detected and quantified by ion chromatographic technique. From the identified anions elevated acetate concentration was found in the investigated lichenised fungi species at all three locations of interest. This finding might be related with its importance at the cell membranes level, most probably in the acetate-malonate pathway involved in secondary metabolites formation. The concentrations of other ions showed no significant differences within the investigated locations or within the investigated species. Noticeable differences from a month to another were observed in the concentrations of the identified chemical compounds but not clear trend was detected. When water soluble cations are also considered, in both Xanthoria parietina and Phaeophyscia orbicularis lichenised fungi species, potassium and acetate ions appear to be the most abundant with relative % contributions of about 19.15% and 22.3%, respectively.