Abstract
The progressive colonization of land by plants has been possible mainly owing to the development of lignified cell walls that allow water conduction through tracheary elements and the upright growth. Lignin is a complex aromatic polymer that is embedded in secondary cell walls of vascular plants. However, the ability to synthesize lignin precursors is much more ancient as the lignin biosynthesis machinery and lignin-like material are present in nonvascular plants including some algae and bryophytes. This chapter focuses on recent knowledge in the distribution of lignin as well as in lignin biosynthesis and polymerization genes across the plant kingdom. The amazing variability and flexibility of lignin structure and composition are also reviewed.
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