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Diversity and Evolution in Lycophytes and Ferns
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Diversity and Evolution in Lycophytes and Ferns

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Systematics, Taxonomy, Nomenclature and Classification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 May 2024) | Viewed by 9950

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yuehong Yan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Orchid Conservation & Research Center of Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518114, China
Interests: taxonomy, diversity and evolution in pteridophytes
Dr. Hongmei Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun 666303, China
Interests: plant taxonomy; molecular systematics; ferns; conservation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ferns are the earliest vascular plants on land, with an evolutionary history of nearly 400 million years, and are an important group in the diversity of existing terrestrial plants. The numerous groups of existing ferns have unique evolutionary mechanisms and adaptive characteristics, which are of great significance for studying the diversity of existing terrestrial plants; however, there are still many important groups whose species classification is unclear, their geographical distribution patterns are unclear, and their adaptive evolution mechanisms are difficult to understand. Therefore, we plan to collect a series of targeted scientific research papers on the diversity, biogeography, phylogeny as well as classification, and adaptive evolution of ferns in order to provide new scientific perspectives on the oldest terrestrial vascular plant group on Earth.

Dr. Yuehong Yan
Dr. Hongmei Liu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • pteridophytes
  • lycophytes
  • ferns
  • phylogeny
  • evolution
  • diversity
  • biogeography
  • taxonomy
  • genomics and phylogenomics

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

39 pages, 29694 KiB  
Article
Jurassic Osmundaceous Landscapes in Patagonia: Exploring the Concept of Ecological Stasis in the Deseado Massif, Argentina
by Juan L. García Massini, Giovanni C. Nunes, Agustina Yañez, Ignacio H. Escapa and Diego Guido
Plants 2025, 14(2), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14020165 - 8 Jan 2025
Viewed by 3111
Abstract
Herein, we report the presence of a plant paleocommunity, dominated by ferns of the family Osmundaceae, structurally preserved from the only known Mesozoic, fossiliferous geothermal deposits, from the La Matilde Formation (Middle-Upper Jurassic) in the Deseado Massif of Southern Patagonia, Argentina. A total [...] Read more.
Herein, we report the presence of a plant paleocommunity, dominated by ferns of the family Osmundaceae, structurally preserved from the only known Mesozoic, fossiliferous geothermal deposits, from the La Matilde Formation (Middle-Upper Jurassic) in the Deseado Massif of Southern Patagonia, Argentina. A total of 13 siliceous chert blocks sampled in an area of approximately 250 m2, preserving a monotypic assemblage dominated by Osmundaceae embedded within its original swampy substrate, are documented. Additional Osmundaceae and fewer ferns and conifers are present in the stratigraphically continuous, adjacent chert levels. This association is comparable to those dominated by Osmundaceae in modern swampy settings, such as in high-altitude lagoons in the Paraná Forest in Northeastern Argentina. In addition, a diverse community of mutualistic, parasitic, and saprotrophic microorganisms associated with the ferns and conifers in the assemblage is present. These compositional, paleoenvironmental, and trophic characteristics of the Jurassic Osmundaceae suggest a possible case of ecological stasis, where Osmundaceae-dominated plant communities apparently persisted in swamps of comparable structures, functions, and physical characteristics for over 150 million years. This suggests that Osmundaceae formed similar communities in compatible settings in the Jurassic, becoming preserved in analogous configurations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution in Lycophytes and Ferns)
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14 pages, 2005 KiB  
Article
Origin and Persistence of Lycopodium clavatum and Lycopodium annotinum (Lycopodiaceae) in Scots Pine Forests
by Radvilė Rimgailė-Voicik, Aleksandras Voicikas, Julija Fediajevaitė, Sigitas Juzėnas and Jolanta Patamsytė
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2120; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152120 - 31 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1345
Abstract
Understanding the growth dynamics of spore-bearing clonal plant sporophytes and the influence of abiotic and biotic factors is crucial for predicting the persistence of club moss populations and implementing effective habitat management techniques. Despite this, the longevity and development of club-moss populations are [...] Read more.
Understanding the growth dynamics of spore-bearing clonal plant sporophytes and the influence of abiotic and biotic factors is crucial for predicting the persistence of club moss populations and implementing effective habitat management techniques. Despite this, the longevity and development of club-moss populations are rarely studied. This study adopted an integrated approach to assess the probability of repetitive young sporophyte recruitment via sexual propagation in Lycopodium annotinum L. and Lycopodium clavatum L. The size–age problem of clonal spore-bearing forest plants and their niche segregation were addressed. The canopy characteristics, insolation, small-scale disturbance, and genetic polymorphism were studied in temperate semi-natural Scots pine forests in Lithuania. Based on the size of the clones discovered, we hypothesize that initial sporophyte emergence occurred in 20-year-old pine stands, with subsequent sporophyte emergence continuing over time. The emergence was related to small-scale disturbances. High genetic polymorphism indicates that all sporophyte stands studied likely emerged via sexual reproduction. According to Ellenberg values, L. annotinum is related to shady habitats, but our findings show both species coexisting abundantly in the more open habitat, supposedly more suitable for L. clavatum.No significant differences in vegetation relevés and light availability was detected using hemispheric images. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution in Lycophytes and Ferns)
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15 pages, 5474 KiB  
Article
Relationships within Bolbitis sinensis Species Complex Using RAD Sequencing
by Liyun Nie, Yuhan Fang, Zengqiang Xia, Xueying Wei, Zhiqiang Wu, Yuehong Yan and Faguo Wang
Plants 2024, 13(14), 1987; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13141987 - 20 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1017
Abstract
Species identification and phylogenetic relationship clarification are fundamental goals in species delimitation. However, these tasks pose challenges when based on morphologies, geographic distribution, and genomic data. Previously, two species of the fern genus Bolbitis, B. × multipinna and B. longiaurita were described based [...] Read more.
Species identification and phylogenetic relationship clarification are fundamental goals in species delimitation. However, these tasks pose challenges when based on morphologies, geographic distribution, and genomic data. Previously, two species of the fern genus Bolbitis, B. × multipinna and B. longiaurita were described based on morphological traits; they are phylogenetically intertwined with B. sinensis and fail to form monophyletic groups. To address the unclear phylogenetic relationships within the B. sinensis species complex, RAD sequencing was performed on 65 individuals from five populations. Our integrated analysis of phylogenetic trees, neighbor nets, and genetic structures indicate that the B. sinensis species complex should not be considered as separate species. Moreover, our findings reveal differences in the degree of genetic differentiation among the five populations, ranging from low to moderate, which might be influenced by geographical distance and gene flow. The Fst values also confirmed that genetic differentiation intensifies with increasing geographic distance. Collectively, this study clarifies the complex phylogenetic relationships within the B. sinensis species complex, elucidates the genetic diversity and differentiation across the studied populations, and offers valuable genetic insights that contribute to the broader study of evolutionary relationships and population genetics within the Bolbitis species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution in Lycophytes and Ferns)
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20 pages, 7366 KiB  
Article
Endophytic Fungal Diversity of Mangrove Ferns Acrostichum speciosum and A. aureum in China
by Hongjuan Zhu, Wending Zeng, Manman Chen, Dan He, Xialan Cheng, Jing Yu, Ya Liu, Yougen Wu and Dongmei Yang
Plants 2024, 13(5), 685; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050685 - 29 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1843
Abstract
Microbial communities are an important component of mangrove ecosystems. In order to reveal the diversity of endophytic fungi in the mangrove ferns Acrostichum speciosum and A. aureum in China, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of endophytic fungi in four plant tissues (leaves, [...] Read more.
Microbial communities are an important component of mangrove ecosystems. In order to reveal the diversity of endophytic fungi in the mangrove ferns Acrostichum speciosum and A. aureum in China, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of endophytic fungi in four plant tissues (leaves, petioles, roots, and rhizomes) from three locations (Zhanjiang, Haikou, and Wenchang) were sequenced. The richness, species composition, and community similarity were analyzed. The main results are as follows: the dominant fungi in A. speciosum and A. aureum belonged to the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, accounting for more than 75% of the total identified fungi; in terms of species composition at the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) level, the endophytic fungi in A. aureum were more diverse than those in A. speciosum, and the endophytic fungi in rhizomes were more diverse than in other tissues. In Zhanjiang, both A. speciosum and A. aureum showed the richest diversity of endophytic fungi, both at the OTU classification level and in terms of species composition. Conversely, the richness of endophytic fungi in the samples of A. speciosum from Wenchang and Haikou is extremely low. The regional differences in dominant fungi increase with the degrading of taxonomic levels, and there were also significant differences in the number of unique fungi among different origins, with Zhanjiang samples having a larger number of unique fungi than the other locations. There were significant differences in the dominant fungi among different tissues, with Xylariales being the dominant fungi in rhizomes of A. speciosum and Hypocreales being the dominant fungi in the petioles, roots, and rhizomes of A. aureum. Overall, the community similarity of endophytic fungi among locations is moderately dissimilar (26–50%), while the similarity between tissues is moderately similar (51–75%). The low diversity of endophytic fungi could be one of the main reasons for the endangerment of A. speciosum. The protection of the diversity of endophytic fungi in the underground parts of A. speciosum is essential for the conservation of this critically endangered mangrove fern. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution in Lycophytes and Ferns)
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22 pages, 7333 KiB  
Article
Whole Genome Duplication Events Likely Contributed to the Aquatic Adaptive Evolution of Parkerioideae
by Meng Wang, Rui Zhang, Jiang-Ping Shu, Xi-Long Zheng, Xin-Yi Wu, Jian-Bing Chen, Mei-Na Wang, Hui Shen and Yue-Hong Yan
Plants 2024, 13(4), 521; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040521 - 14 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1807
Abstract
As the only aquatic lineage of Pteridaceae, Parkerioideae is distinct from many xeric-adapted species of the family and consists of the freshwater Ceratopteris species and the only mangrove ferns from the genus Acrostichum. Previous studies have shown that whole genome duplication (WGD) [...] Read more.
As the only aquatic lineage of Pteridaceae, Parkerioideae is distinct from many xeric-adapted species of the family and consists of the freshwater Ceratopteris species and the only mangrove ferns from the genus Acrostichum. Previous studies have shown that whole genome duplication (WGD) has occurred in Parkerioideae at least once and may have played a role in their adaptive evolution; however, more in-depth research regarding this is still required. In this study, comparative and evolutionary transcriptomics analyses were carried out to identify WGDs and explore their roles in the environmental adaptation of Parkerioideae. Three putative WGD events were identified within Parkerioideae, two of which were specific to Ceratopteris and Acrostichum, respectively. The functional enrichment analysis indicated that the lineage-specific WGD events have played a role in the adaptation of Parkerioideae to the low oxygen concentrations of aquatic habitats, as well as different aquatic environments of Ceratopteris and Acrostichum, such as the adaptation of Ceratopteris to reduced light levels and the adaptation of Acrostichum to high salinity. Positive selection analysis further provided evidence that the putative WGD events may have facilitated the adaptation of Parkerioideae to changes in habitat. Moreover, the gene family analysis indicated that the plasma membrane H+-ATPase (AHA), vacuolar H+-ATPase (VHA), and suppressor of K+ transport growth defect 1 (SKD1) may have been involved in the high salinity adaptation of Acrostichum. Our study provides new insights into the evolution and adaptations of Parkerioideae in different aquatic environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Evolution in Lycophytes and Ferns)
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