Developmental Stage Determines the Accumulation Pattern of UV-Absorbing Compounds in the Model Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis under Controlled Conditions

The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis is an emerging model plant, and some data are available on its responses to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, it is unknown if the developmental stage of the thalli modulates the effects of UV radiation on the contents of potentially protecting phenolic compounds. To fill this gap, liverwort samples were exposed or non-exposed to UV radiation for 38 days under controlled conditions, using three developmental stages: gemmae (G), one-month thalli (T1), and two-month thalli (T2). Then, the bulk level of methanol-soluble UV-absorbing compounds and the contents of six flavones (apigenin and luteolin derivatives) were measured. The UV responsiveness decreased with thallus age: G and T1 plants were the most UV-responsive and showed a strong increase in all the variables, with G plants more responsive than T1 plants. In UV-exposed T2 plants, only apigenin derivatives increased and more modestly, probably due to a lower acclimation capacity. Nevertheless, the thalli became progressively tougher due to a decreasing water content, representing a possible structural protection against UV. In UV-exposed plants, the temporal patterns of the accumulation of phenolic compounds were compound-specific. Most compounds decreased with thallus age, but di-glucuronide derivatives showed a bell-shaped pattern, with T1 plants showing the highest contents. A Principal Components Analysis (PCA) ordination of the different samples summarized the results found. The patterns described above should be taken into account to select thalli of an adequate developmental stage for experiments investigating the induction of phenolic compounds by UV radiation.