Phylotranscriptomics unveil a Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic origin and deep relationships of the Viridiplantae

Zhiping Yang, Xiaoya Ma, Qiuping Wang, Xiaolin Tian, Jingyan Sun, Zhenhua Zhang, Shuhai Xiao, Olivier Clerck, Frederik Leliaert and Bojian Zhong ()
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Zhiping Yang: Nanjing Normal University
Xiaoya Ma: Nanjing Normal University
Qiuping Wang: Nanjing Normal University
Xiaolin Tian: Nanjing Normal University
Jingyan Sun: Nanjing Normal University
Zhenhua Zhang: Nanjing Normal University
Shuhai Xiao: Virginia Tech
Olivier Clerck: Ghent University
Frederik Leliaert: Meise Botanic Garden
Bojian Zhong: Nanjing Normal University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract The Viridiplantae comprise two main clades, the Chlorophyta (including a diverse array of marine and freshwater green algae) and the Streptophyta (consisting of the freshwater charophytes and the land plants). Lineages sister to core Chlorophyta, informally refer to as prasinophytes, form a grade of mainly planktonic green algae. Recently, one of these lineages, Prasinodermophyta, which is previously grouped with prasinophytes, has been identified as the sister lineage to both Chlorophyta and Streptophyta. Resolving the deep relationships among green plants is crucial for understanding the historical impact of green algal diversity on marine ecology and geochemistry, but has been proven difficult given the ancient timing of the diversification events. Through extensive taxon and gene sampling, we conduct large-scale phylogenomic analyses to resolve deep relationships and reveal the Prasinodermophyta as the lineage sister to Chlorophyta, raising questions about the necessity of classifying the Prasinodermophyta as a distinct phylum. We unveil that incomplete lineage sorting is the main cause of discordance regarding the placement of Prasinodermophyta. Molecular dating analyses suggest that crown-group green plants and crown-group Prasinodermophyta date back to the Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic. Our study establishes a plausible link between oxygen levels in the Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic and the origin of Viridiplantae.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41137-5

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