Many species of lichenized ascomycetes are capable of synthesizing darkly colored melanin pigments by polymerizing phenolic compounds. Available data suggest that different clades of lichens produce various kinds of melanins, with N₂-fixing Peltigeralean lichens producing N-rich DOPA or “eumelanins” and lichens from other orders producing N-poor “allomelanins.” In general, melanic lichens seem to be more common in environments with high levels of abiotic stress such as polar and montane regions, but they are by no means restricted to these habitats. Here, we review the occurrence of melanins in lichens, their chemical structure, methods of quantification and biological roles. Good evidence exists that melanins in lichens protect the mycobiont from high UV, and the photobiont against high PAR. However, given their many unique properties, it seems likely that melanins help lichens to survive a range of biotic and abiotic stresses.

许多种类的地衣状子囊菌能够通过聚合酚类化合物来合成深色黑色素颜料。现有数据表明，不同的地衣进化枝产生各种黑色素，其中N ₂-固定生产富含N的DOPA或“全黑素”的Peltigeralean地衣，以及生产N较差的“ Allomelanins”的其他订单中的地衣。通常，在非生物胁迫水平较高的环境（例如极地和山地地区）中，黑色素地衣似乎更为常见，但绝不限于这些栖息地。在这里，我们回顾了黑色素在地衣中的发生，其化学结构，定量方法和生物学作用。有充分的证据表明，地衣中的黑色素可保护真菌生物素免受高紫外线的侵害，并使光生物素免受高PAR的侵害。但是，鉴于其许多独特的特性，黑色素似乎可以帮助地衣在各种生物和非生物胁迫下生存。