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Duckweed Evolution: from Land back to Water.

Yang Fang1, Xueping Tian1, Yanling Jin1

  • 1Agricultural Microbial Agents Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, National Engineering and Research Center for Natural Medicines, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China.

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Duckweed evolved aquatic traits by gradually losing root structures and stomatal function, alongside genetic changes. This study reveals how land plants adapted to water, reversing early plant evolution.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Plant science
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Terrestrialization is a key evolutionary step for plants.
  • The evolution of aquatic growth behaviors in land plants remains poorly understood.
  • Duckweed (Lemnoideae) offers a unique model to study the transition from terrestrial to aquatic life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the evolutionary history of duckweed's adaptation to aquatic environments.
  • To investigate the genetic and morphological changes associated with duckweed's terrestrial-to-aquatic transition.
  • To reconstruct the habitat evolution of duckweed from land back to water.

Main Methods:

  • Integration of multiproxy evidence.
  • Comparative analysis of root structure and stomatal function across duckweed genera.
  • Gene expression and gene family size analysis, focusing on phytohormonal pathways and flavonoid biosynthesis.
  • Reconstruction of evolutionary history.

Main Results:

  • Observed gradual degeneration of root structure and stomatal function in duckweed genera.
  • Documented decrease in lignocellulose content and contraction in relevant gene numbers/transcriptional levels.
  • Identified decreased gene numbers in phytohormonal pathways, particularly auxin and rhizoid development, leading to reduced adventitious roots.
  • Noted significant expansion of the flavonoid pathway linked to floating adaptation.

Conclusions:

  • Duckweed's evolution involved a reversal of early land plant terrestrialization.
  • Genetic and morphological degenerations, alongside pathway expansions, facilitated adaptation to aquatic, floating lifestyles.
  • This study provides insights into the evolutionary trajectory from land to water in plants.