Fotobiont

Cross section of lichen. Photovoltaic cells were marked in color

Photobiont - autotrophic (auto-vaporous) component in co-organisms, one of which is auto-immune, the other is non-carcinogenic. This kind of coexistence occurs in lichens. There are algae in them. In 90% of species are algae from the group of greens, called protocoidal algae, in the remaining 10% are cyanobacteria. The mycobacteria in the lichen are fungi. The interaction of algae with fungi in lichens varies in different species. It can be quite loose, or very tight, during which the fungus fragments penetrate algae cells.

According to most researchers, the interaction of algae with fungi is beneficial for both partners (mutualism). The fungus absorbs carbohydrates from the cells, which it can not synthesize by itself, in return protects the algae against external influences, particularly the drying, and supplies it with the necessary mineral salts for the algae. There is also a concept of partial reciprocity, which states that this is a state of balance between the fungus as a parasite and that the parasite is resistant to parasitism because the fungus excreted by the fungus stimulates it to intensify photosynthesis sufficient for both partners. Some people consider the interaction of fungi and algae in lichens as a kind of parasitism, helotism, or endosaprophitism in which the benefits of coexistence are only fungus. There is even a concept of anthropometry.

Currently, there is a prevailing view that in such a large and varied group as lichens, all these types of photobilia and mycobacteria coexist.

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