phycobiont Bot.
(faɪkəʊˈbaɪɒnt)
[f. phyco- + Gr. βιουντ-, pr. pple. stem of βιοῦν to live, f. βίος life.]
The algal component of a lichen; any alga which is associated with a fungus to form a lichen.
| 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. 1969, 1973 [see mycobiont]. 1976 G. C. Ainsworth Introd. Hist. Mycol. iv. 98 The phycobiont frequently shows no apparent differences from its free-living counterpart. |