A large-scale genomic study has provided insight into the evolutionary success of bryophytes, the group of non-vascular plants that includes mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.
Researchers sequenced 123 bryophyte genomes, greatly expanding the amount of available genetic data for these early land plants. The analysis shows that bryophytes contain a higher diversity of gene families compared to vascular plants, including many unique and lineage-specific genes. Much of this diversity appears to have arisen through the formation of new genes and the transfer of genes from microbes over evolutionary time.
Although bryophytes are structurally simple and lack roots and lignified water-conducting cells, they are widespread and can survive in a variety of habitats, including extreme environments. The study suggests that their rich genetic toolkit, which includes specialized immune receptors and stress-tolerance genes, may help explain this adaptability.