Light, rather than circadian rhythm, regulates gas exchange in ferns and lycophytes.

ABSTRACT: Circadian regulation plays a vital role in optimizing plant responses to the environment. However, while circadian regulation has been extensively studied in angiosperms, very little is known for lycophytes and ferns, leaving a gap in our understanding of the evolution of circadian rhythms across the plant kingdom. Here, we investigated circadian regulation in gas exchange through stomatal conductance and photosynthetic efficiency in a phylogenetically broad panel of 21 species of lycophytes and ferns over a 46 h period under constant light and a selected few under more natural conditions with day-night cycles. No rhythm was detected under constant light for either lycophytes or ferns, except for two semi-aquatic species of the family Marsileaceae (Marsilea azorica and Regnellidium diphyll

SUBMITTER: Aros-Mualin D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10022864 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature