Genomes of the Venus Flytrap and Close Relatives Unveil the Roots of Plant CarnivoryHighlights d An early whole-genome duplication is the source of carnivory-associated genes d Trap-specific genes were recruited from the roots d Expansion of specific gene families enabled fine-tuning of hunting styles d Evolution of plant carnivory was paralleled by massive gene loss

Plant productivity depends on optimal water-use efficiency and photosynthetic capacity balanced by stomatal conductance. Whether and how stomatal behavior contributes to salt sensitivity or tolerance is currently unknown. This work identifies guard cell-specific signaling networks exerted by a salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant plant under ionic and osmotic stress conditions accompanied with increasing NaCl loads.  We challenged soil grown Arabidopsis thaliana and Thellungiella salsuginea plants with shortand long-term salinity stress and monitored genome-wide gene expression and signals of guard cells that determine their function.  Arabidopsis plants suffered from both salt regimes and showed reduced stomatal conductance while Thellungiella displayed no obvious stress symptoms. The salt-dependent gene expression changes of guard cells supported the ability of the halophyte to maintain high potassium to sodium ratios and to attenuate the ABA signaling pathway which the glycophyte kept activated despite fading ABA levels.  Our study shows that salinity stress and even the different tolerance levels are manifested on a single cell level. Halophytic guard cells react less sensitive than glycophytic guard cells providing opportunities to manipulate stomatal behavior and improve plant productivity.

To survive in nutrient-poor habitats, carnivorous plants capture small organisms comprising complex substances not suitable for immediate reuse. The traps of carnivorous plants, which are analogous to the digestive systems of animals, are equipped with mechanisms for the breakdown and absorption of nutrients. Such capabilities have been acquired convergently over the past tens of millions of years in multiple angiosperm lineages by modifying plant-specific organs including leaves. The epidermis of carnivorous trap leaves bears groups of specialized cells called glands, which acquire substances from their prey via digestion and absorption. The digestive glands of carnivorous plants secrete mucilage, pitcher fluids, acids, and proteins, including digestive enzymes. The same (or morphologically distinct) glands then absorb the released compounds via various membrane transport proteins or endocytosis. Thus, these glands function in a manner similar to animal cells that are physiologically important in the digestive system, such as the parietal cells of the stomach and intestinal epithelial cells. Yet, carnivorous plants are equipped with strategies that deal with or incorporate plant-specific features, such as cell walls, epidermal cuticles, and phytohormones. In this review, we provide a systematic perspective on the digestive and absorptive capacity of convergently evolved carnivorous plants, with an emphasis on the forms and functions of glands.

This page was generated automatically upon download from the ETH Zurich Research Collection. For more information please consult the Terms of use. ETH Library Article Genomes of the Venus Flytrap and Close Relatives Unveil the Roots of Plant Carnivory Highlights d An early whole-genome duplication is the source of carnivory-associated genes d Trap-specific genes were recruited from the roots d Expansion of specific gene families enabled fine-tuning of hunting styles d Evolution of plant carnivory was paralleled by massive gene loss