Lichen research in the omics era: a lens into the archetypal symbiosis

Abstract The introduction of high-throughput sequencing and omics has expanded the toolkit available for lichen researchers. Genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data from lichens can now be produced and interrogated relatively easily. Here, we discuss several areas within lichen biology, which have benefited from these methods. These include evolutionary biology of lichen symbionts, their biochemistry, and studies on lichen organismal composition. We discuss metagenomics as one of the most powerful methods to explore lichens as complex symbiotic organisms. Based on recent advances in biological methods, as well as current knowledge gaps in lichen biology, we propose several opportunities for research on the lichen symbiosis, such as studies of spatial organization of lichen thalli and a way to complement data-driven hypothesis-generating omics research with experimental approaches.