Developing a fast, reproducible, and simple protocol for virtual lichen herbarium using barcoding and QR code techniques

In recent days, biological specimens are digitalized and digital images are available in virtual herbarium for teaching and learning process. Now, there is a need to explore possibilities of usage of barcodes and quick response (QR) codes in developing virtual herbarium for quick access as well as study the taxonomy of repository specimens. In order to establish a virtual herbarium for lichens using barcode and QR code techniques, lichen specimens such as Chrysothrix candelaris (L.) J.R.Laundon, Leucodermia leucomelos (L.) Kalb, Heterodernia flabellate (fee) D.D.Awasthi, Parmotrema andinum (Mull.Arg.) Hale, Parmotrema grayanum (Hue) Hale, Parmellinella stuppeum (Taylor) Hale, and Ramalina intermedia (Delise ex Nyl.) Nyl. were collected from the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India and were identified based on morphological, anatomical and biochemical methods. Moreover, these specimens were preserved in the conventional lichen herbarium as reference materials for future studies. The barcodes and QR codes were generated for all the repository specimens to access the materials as well as to get a complete description of the lichen specimens. The generated barcodes provided the binomial name of lichen specimens along with their accession number. Similarly, the QR codes provided the digital image of lichen specimens along with complete descriptions such as distribution, habit and habitat, growth forms, name of the family, reproductive structure, chemistry, nature of thallus structure and lichen secondary metabolites. From these studies, we standardized a simple, rapid with reproducible protocol to develop a virtual herbarium for lichens to get the digital image and to access the complete descriptions of lichen specimens. This study might be useful for Lichenologists to get information about lichens in digital form and to maintain the lichen wealth for future regenerations without disturbing the lichen biodiversity.