Origin and evolution of green plants in the light of key evolutionary events. Issue 2 (26th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Zhenhua; Ma, Xiaoya; Liu, Yannan; Yang, Lingxiao; Shi, Xuan; Wang, Hao; Diao, Runjie; Zhong, Bojian
• Editors: Gong, Zhizhong
• Is Part Of: Journal of integrative plant biology. Volume 64:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 516
• Page End: 535
• Publication Date: 2022-02-26
• Subjects: adaptation -- divergence times -- green plants -- key innovations -- phylogenetics -- terrestrialization; Plants -- Periodicals; Plants -- China -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 580.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13224
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1672-9072

Abstract

Abstract: Green plants (Viridiplantae) are ancient photosynthetic organisms that thrive both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, greatly contributing to the changes in global climates and ecosystems. Significant progress has been made toward understanding the origin and evolution of green plants, and plant biologists have arrived at the consensus that green plants first originated in marine deep‐water environments and later colonized fresh water and dry land. The origin of green plants, colonization of land by plants and rapid radiation of angiosperms are three key evolutionary events during the long history of green plants. However, the comprehensive understanding of evolutionary features and molecular innovations that enabled green plants to adapt to complex and changeable environments are still limited. Here, we review current knowledge of phylogenetic relationships and divergence times of green plants, and discuss key morphological innovations and distinct drivers in the evolution of green plants. Ultimately, we highlight fundamental questions to advance our understanding of the phenotypic novelty, environmental adaptation, and domestication of green plants. Abstract : It is imperative to understand the phenotypic novelty and environmental adaptation of green plants in the light of evolution. This review summaries the recent progresses on phylogeny, divergence times, morphological innovations and distinct drivers in the evolutionary history of green plants, and discusses future prospects for plant evolution.