Universal relation between genome and stomatal size across tracheophytes and putative genome expansion during terrestrialization of plants
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| Year of publication | 2011 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Relationship between DNA content and stomatal length was studied using flow cytometry in 126 species covering phylogeny of extant ferns (Monilophyta). Phylogenetic signal was detected for both studied parameters. Both correlation analysis and analysis of phylogenetically independent contrasts revealed that DNA content in ferns is positively correlated with stomatal length. Moreover, the arithmetic relation does not differ between monilophytes and flowering plants (p less than 0.05). Universal relation between genome and stomatal size across tracheophytes (= all land plants excluding bryophytes). The large stomata detected previously in fossil rhyniophytes (Horneophyton lignieri: 120–180 um, Aglaophyton major: 120–140 um, Rhynia gwynne-vaughanii: 90–100 um, or Nothia aphylla: 75–105 um) supports idea that CO2 rich ordovician atmosphere facilitated either polyploidization or retrotransposon proliferation in early land plants, which consequently promoted their terrestrialization. |
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