Horizontal gene transfers and terpene metabolism drive plant-fungal interaction in Marchantia polymorpha.

Marchantia-specific immune mechanisms have not been explored. In this study, we investigated the genetic basis of quantitative resistance in M. polymorpha against the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum nymphaeae, a naturally occurring compatible parasite. Through a transcriptomic approaches, combined with genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we identified key defense-related genes and pathways. The Marchantia polymorpha ssp. ruderalis Tak-1 and CA accessions display striking temporal and functional discrepancies in their differential gene expression in response to C. nymphaeae.