phycobiontn.
/ˌfʌɪkəʊˈbʌɪɒnt/, U.S. /ˌfaɪkoʊˈbaɪˌɑnt/ Botany.
1. The algal component of a lichen; any alga which is associated with a fungus to form a lichen (occasionally: spec. a green alga, as distinct from a blue-green alga). Cf. mycobiont n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > lichen > [noun] > fungal or algal component
mycobiont1957
phycobiont1957
1957 G. D. Scott in Nature 2 Mar. 486/2 Three new terms are here proposed... They are: (1) ‘phycobiont’, applicable to an alga in association with a fungus in the formation of a lichen; [etc.].
1962 New Scientist 28 June 719/1 Efforts have previously been made to investigate the exact nature of the relationship between the algal partner (sometimes called the phycobiont) and the fungus.
1976 G. C. Ainsworth Introd. Hist. Mycol. iv. 98 The phycobiont frequently shows no apparent differences from its free-living counterpart.
2000 V. Ahmadjian & S. Paracer Symbiosis (ed. 2) viii. 114 The mycobiont will lichenize species of Trebouxia other than its natural phycobiont.
2. An alga in association with another type of organism (usually a plant).
ΚΠ
1957 G. D. Scott in Nature 2 Mar. 487/1 Phycobiont may also be applied to the algae associated with Cycas, Gunnera, Blasia, etc.
1975 New Phytologist 75 133 In the absence of the phycobiont, in axenic culture, Azolla still produced leaf cavity hairs, at the same density as when Anabaena is present.
1992 New Phytologist 120 243/2 In the coralloid roots three main types of phycobiont are distinguishable, each having preference for a group or species of cycads.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1957