Abstract
We have isolated phytochrome genes from the moss Physcomitrella, the fern Psilotum and PCR‐generated phytochrome sequences from a few other ferns. The phytochrome gene of the moss Physcomitrella turned out not to contain the aberrant C‐terminal third of the phytochrome from the moss Ceratodon, but the transmitter module‐like sequences found in other phytochromes. A series of different phytochrome genes was detected in Psilotum. Differences between the amino acid sequences derived from them ranged from about 5 to more than 22%. Some of these genes are likely pseudogenes. Analysis by phylogenetic tree constructions revealed that higher and lower plant phytochromes evolved with different velocities. Lower plant phytochromes form a separate family characterized by a high degree of similarity. The amino acid differences between phytochrome types detected in a single species of higher plants are about two‐fold higher than the differences between phytochromes of species of lower plants belonging to different divisions (Physcomitrella and Selaginella). Future studies on phytochrome sequences may eventually also throw light on the significance of Psilotum in the evolution of vascular plants.
Published Version
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