Chloroplast Genome Analysis to Detect Transition Link between Bryophytes and Pteridophytes: A Bioinformatics Approach

Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) are the most basal lineages among extant land plants. However, there is controversy regarding their monophyletic or paraphyletic origin. Moreover, the most basal group of bryophytes also remains questionable. Due to this it is a matter of debate which lineage of bryophytes acts as transition link between bryophytes and pteridophytes. In order to resolve these issues we conducted a bioinformatics analysis on available chloroplast genomes of 1 green alga, 5 bryophytes, 4 pteridophytes, and 6 gymnosperms. Our study is based on multiple genome analysis through whole proteome comparison. The higher number of orthologous identified in Anthoceros (a hornwort), in comparison to other bryophytes considered, against all pteridophytes strongly support hornworts as transition link between bryophytes and pteridophytes. Introduction Among land plants, bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) appear to be the most basal lineages among extant land plants (Kenrick and Crane, 1997). However, the monophyly of major