Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2959
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2959
18 Oct 2024
 | 18 Oct 2024

Peltigera lichen thalli produce highly efficient ice nucleating agents

Rosemary J. Eufemio, Galit Renzer, Mariah Rojas, Jolanta Miadlikowska, Todd L. Sformo, François Lutzoni, Boris A. Vinatzer, and Konrad Meister

Abstract. From extracellular freezing to cloud glaciation, the crystallization of water is ubiquitous and shapes life as we know it. Efficient biological ice nucleators (INs) are crucial for organism survival in cold environments and, when aerosolized, serve as a significant source of atmospheric ice nuclei. Several lichen species have been identified as potent INs capable of inducing freezing at high subzero temperatures. Despite their importance, the abundance and diversity of lichen INs are still not well understood. Here, we investigate ice nucleation activity in the cyanolichen-forming genus Peltigera from across a range of ecosystems in the Arctic, the Northwestern United States, and Central and South America. We find strong IN activity in all tested Peltigera species, with ice nucleation temperatures above -12 °C, and 35 % of the samples initiating freezing at temperatures at or above -6.2 °C. The Peltigera INs in aqueous extract appear resistant to freeze-thaw cycles, suggesting that they can survive dispersal through the atmosphere and thereby potentially influence precipitation patterns. An axenic fungal culture termed L01-tf-B03, from the lichen Peltigera britannica JNU22, displayed an ice nucleation temperature of -5.6 °C at 1 mg mL-1 and retained remarkably efficient IN-activity at concentrations as low as 0.1 ng mL-1. Our analysis suggests that the INs released from this fungus in culture are 1000 times more efficient than the most potent bacterial INs from Pseudomonas syringae. The global distribution of Peltigera lichens, in combination with the IN-efficiency, emphasizes their potential to act as powerful ice nucleating agents in the atmosphere.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Share

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

29 Apr 2025
| Highlight paper
Peltigera lichen thalli produce highly potent ice-nucleating agents
Rosemary J. Eufemio, Galit Renzer, Mariah Rojas, Jolanta Miadlikowska, Todd L. Sformo, François Lutzoni, Boris A. Vinatzer, and Konrad Meister
Biogeosciences, 22, 2087–2096, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2087-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2087-2025, 2025
Short summary Co-editor-in-chief
Rosemary J. Eufemio, Galit Renzer, Mariah Rojas, Jolanta Miadlikowska, Todd L. Sformo, François Lutzoni, Boris A. Vinatzer, and Konrad Meister

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2959', Anonymous Referee #1, 15 Nov 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2959', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Dec 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2959', Anonymous Referee #1, 15 Nov 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2959', Anonymous Referee #2, 03 Dec 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (08 Jan 2025) by Robert Rhew
AR by Rosemary J. Eufemio on behalf of the Authors (20 Jan 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 
EF by Anna Glados (22 Jan 2025)  Author's tracked changes 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (28 Jan 2025) by Robert Rhew
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (30 Jan 2025)
ED: Publish as is (15 Feb 2025) by Robert Rhew
AR by Rosemary J. Eufemio on behalf of the Authors (24 Feb 2025)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

29 Apr 2025
| Highlight paper
Peltigera lichen thalli produce highly potent ice-nucleating agents
Rosemary J. Eufemio, Galit Renzer, Mariah Rojas, Jolanta Miadlikowska, Todd L. Sformo, François Lutzoni, Boris A. Vinatzer, and Konrad Meister
Biogeosciences, 22, 2087–2096, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2087-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2087-2025, 2025
Short summary Co-editor-in-chief
Rosemary J. Eufemio, Galit Renzer, Mariah Rojas, Jolanta Miadlikowska, Todd L. Sformo, François Lutzoni, Boris A. Vinatzer, and Konrad Meister
Rosemary J. Eufemio, Galit Renzer, Mariah Rojas, Jolanta Miadlikowska, Todd L. Sformo, François Lutzoni, Boris A. Vinatzer, and Konrad Meister

Viewed

Total article views: 389 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
268 94 27 389 32 14 12
  • HTML: 268
  • PDF: 94
  • XML: 27
  • Total: 389
  • Supplement: 32
  • BibTeX: 14
  • EndNote: 12
Views and downloads (calculated since 18 Oct 2024)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 18 Oct 2024)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 390 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 390 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 29 Apr 2025
Download

The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Peltigera lichens, one of the most abundant lichen genera, contain ice nucleators (INs) that enable freezing near 0 °C. Yet the frequency and efficiency of the INs is largely unknown. Our Pan-American screening of Peltigera reveals that the lichen thalli contain potent INs resistant to freeze-thaw cycles. Notably, a pure fungal culture from Peltigera britannica released the most efficient INs reported to date. Our findings emphasize the potential of Peltigera INs to impact atmospheric patterns.
Share