Inventory of Corticolous Lichens and Argan Wood Fungi

Surveys carried out in the coastal areas of Agadir and Essaouira, particularly at the stations of Taghazout, Tiguert, Tamri, Ain Akra (Imsounae region), Tamanar, Ait Melloul and Elkhssass, revealed the presence of many fungal and lichenic species. The identified fungi are represented by two Basidiomycetes (Auricularia auricula-judae (Bull.: Fr.) Wettstei, Fomes fomentarius (L.: Fr.) JJ Kickx) and two Ascomycetes (Hysterium pulicare (Lightf: Fr.) Pers fries, E 1823, Trematosphaeria pertusa Pers. Fuckel, 1870). Among these species, Fomes fomentarius is the responsible pathogen for white rot of plants. The inventoried corticolous lichens are of the order of 22 species, namely: Evernia prunastri (L.) Ach., Lecanora expallens Ach., Ramalina lacera (With.) Laundon, Ramalina ramulicola (M. Choisy) Zahlbr, Ramalina usnea (L.) R. Howe. Ramalina usneoides Mont. Ramalina pollinaria (Westr.) Ach., Ramalina fraxinea (L.) Ach., Ramalina maciformis (Delile) Bory, Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr., Teloschistes villosus (Ach.) Norm., Caloplaca cerina (Ehrh. ex Hedw.) Th. Fr., Caloplaca ferruginea (Huds.) Th. Fr., Tornabea scutellifera (With.) J.R. Laundon, Squamarina cartilaginea (With.) P. James, Parmotrema hypoleucinum (Steiner) Hale, Arthonia punctiformis Ach., Bactrospora patellarioides (Nyl.) Almq. Diploicia canescens (Dickson) A. Massal., Dirina ceratoniae (Ach.) Fr., Roccella phycopsis (Ach.) Ach, Anaptychia intricata (DC.) A. Massal. These corticolous lichens are not proper parasites, but when they are abundant, can harm living bark by interfering with their respiratory functions.