AUTHOR=Frangedakis Eftychios , Marron Alan O. , Waller Manuel , Neubauer Anna , Tse Sze Wai , Yue Yuling , Ruaud Stephanie , Waser Lucas , Sakakibara Keiko , Szövényi Péter 

TITLE=What can hornworts teach us?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1108027

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2023.1108027

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>The hornworts are a small group of land plants, consisting of only 11 families and approximately 220 species. Despite their small size as a group, their phylogenetic position and unique biology are of great importance. Hornworts, together with mosses and liverworts, form the monophyletic group of bryophytes that is sister to all other land plants (Tracheophytes). It is only recently that hornworts became amenable to experimental investigation with the establishment of <italic>Anthoceros agrestis</italic> as a model system. In this perspective, we summarize the recent advances in the development of <italic>A. agrestis</italic> as an experimental system and compare it with other plant model systems. We also discuss how <italic>A. agrestis</italic> can help to further research in comparative developmental studies across land plants and to solve key questions of plant biology associated with the colonization of the terrestrial environment. Finally, we explore the significance of <italic>A. agrestis</italic> in crop improvement and synthetic biology applications in general.</p>