Rorippa

''Rorippa'' is a globally distributed genus in the family Brassicaceae, with species occurring on all continents except for Antarctica. ''Rorippa'' species are natively distributed in the Northern Hemisphere through Eurasia and North America, and dispersed into the Southern Hemisphere through long-distance dispersal. ''Rorippa'' species are annual to perennial herbs, usually with yellow flowers and a peppery flavour. They are known commonly as yellowcresses.

Description

As a close relative of ''Arabidopsis'', ''Rorippa'' has emerged as a group of valuable model organisms for investigating various biological processes. Researchers have utilized ''Rorippa'' to study developmental phenomena such as heterophylly, weediness, and vegetative regeneration. For example, heterophylly is the ability of plants to produce different leaf forms in response to contrasting environments, such as aerial or submerged conditions. This may incur anatomical or physiological changes and facilitate adaptation to the amphibious lifestyle in ''Rorippa,''

Additionally, ''Rorippa'' has been employed to explore stress tolerance mechanisms, including responses to submergence, heavy metals, high-altitudes, and herbivory (specifically the mustard aphid). For example, ''Rorippa amphibia'' can escape submergence through elongation, while ''Rorippa sylvestris'' or ''Rorippa palustris'' can photosynthesize underwater and exhibits a hyponastic response (positive growth response to gravity), demonstrating a quiescence strategy (a period of reduced activity during unfavorable conditions).

Furthermore, ''Rorippa'' has served as a model system for studying biological invasion, with research focusing on evolutionary, ecological, and historical aspects.

Ecology

Most ''Rorippa'' species thrive in moist or wet environments like ditches, meadows, waterfronts, and wetlands, highlighting their exceptional tolerance to flooding. This facilitates the dispersal of their seeds or vegetative propagules by floods over short to long ranges. For example, their fruits with seeds can remain viable for up to 60 days while floating in water. The aquatic or marshy habitats of ''Rorippa'' often overlap with those of migratory shorebirds, which could potentially carry seeds or fragments over long distances, establishing new populations far from the source. Furthermore, several adaptations, like the mucilage coating or hollows on their seeds, and their ability to self-fertilize and reproduce clonally, might also contribute to their long-distance dispersal.

''Rorippa'' species are known for colonizing disturbed or wet areas first. They serve as valuable indicators of hydrophytic (water-loving) vegetation types. According to the National Wetland Plant List
NWPL
for the United States, several ''Rorippa'' species are classified as wetland indicators, with a high probability of occurring in Obligate (OBL) or Facultative Wetland (FACW) categories. For instance, nearly 55% of the 22 North American ''Rorippa'' species are categorized as OBL wetland indicators, highlighting their strong association with wet environments. This characteristic makes ''Rorippa'' plants a valuable tool for wetland establishment, restoration, and enhancement efforts.

Example

''Rorippa aquatica'', a North American lakecress, is a valuable model organism for studying plant development and adaptation. It exhibits striking heterophylly, altering its leaf shape in response to environmental conditions like submergence, temperature, and light. In low-light submerged environments, for example, it develops finely dissected leaves. While in terrestrial conditions, it forms simple leaves with serrated edges. This leaf shape variation is controlled by the levels of plant hormones including gibberellin (GA) and ethylene, as well as the expression of specific genes, such as ''KNOX1'' or ''RaSPCH/RaMUTE,'' providing an efficient way for leaves to absorb sunlight underwater. The species is also used to study vegetative propagation as it can regenerate from leaf fragments. Its close phylogenetic relationship to ''Arabidopsis thaliana'' and its recently sequenced allotetraploid genome make it a powerful tool for genetic and genomic research.

''Rorippa elata'' is a type of plant that has adapted to live in high-altitude mountain environments. It can adjust its traits, like flowering time and chemical defenses, to survive in different conditions. The plant's ability to adapt is also linked to its polyploid nature, which seems to have played a role in its successful colonization of high-altitudes during periods of historical climate change.

''Rorippa palustris'', a short-lived and self-pollinating herb, is a ruderal weed that has expanded into disturbed wetland areas across the world. A key characteristic of ''R. palustris'', and other ruderal plants, is its short life cycle. Genetic studies have shown that mutations in the ''CRY2'' gene contribute to this early-flowering trait. These mutations lead to a constitutively active ''CRY2'' protein, which overrides the need for vernalization (a cold period) and allows the plant to flower early, even under short-day conditions.

List of species

There are about 75''Rorippa''.
Flora of China. to 85''Rorippa''.
Flora of North America. species in the genus. About 70% of ''Rorippa'' are polyploids, and 90% of them are endemic to specific continents. A few of ''Rorippa'' species are widely distributed and invasive, including ''Rorippa amphibia'', ''Rorippa dubia'', ''Rorippa indica'', ''Rorippa palustris'', and ''Rorippa sylvestris''. Plants of ''Rorippa palustris'' can be found globally, making it one of the most successful weeds in the world.

Species include:
*'' Rorippa alpina'' (S.Wats.) Rydb. – alpine yellowcress
*''Rorippa amphibia'' (L.) Bess. – great yellowcress
*'' Rorippa aquatica'' – lakecress
*'' Rorippa austriaca'' (Crantz) Bess. – Austrian yellowcress, Austrian fieldgrass
*'' Rorippa backeri'' (O.E. Schulz) B. Jonsell
*'' Rorippa barbareifolia'' (DC.) Kitagawa – hoary yellowcress
*'' Rorippa benghalensis''
*'' Rorippa calycina'' (Engel.) Rydb. – persistent-sepal yellowcress
*'' Rorippa cantoniensis'' – Chinese yellowcress
*'' Rorippa columbiae'' (Suksd. ex B.L.Rob.) Suksd. ex Howell – Columbian yellowcress, Columbia watercress
*'' Rorippa crystallina'' – MacKenzie River yellowcress
*'' Rorippa curvipes'' Greene – bluntleaf yellowcress
*'' Rorippa curvisiliqua'' (Hook.) Besser ex Britton – curvepod yellowcress, western yellowcress
*'' Rorippa divaricata''
*'' Rorippa dubia''
*'' Rorippa elata''
*'' Rorippa globosa'' – globe yellowcress
*''Rorippa hengduanshanensis''
*''Rorippa icarica'' Rech.f.
*'' Rorippa indica'' Hiern. – variableleaf yellowcress
*'' Rorippa intermedia'' – intermediate yellowcress
*'' Rorippa islandica'' – northern yellowcress, northern marsh yellowcress
*'' Rorippa laciniata''
*'' Rorippa microtitis'' – Chihuahuan yellowcress
*'' Rorippa palustris'' (L.) Bess. – common yellowcress, yellow watercress, marshcress
*'' Rorippa portoricensis'' – Puerto Rico yellowcress
*'' Rorippa ramosa'' – Durango yellowcress
*'' Rorippa sarmentosa'' (G.Forst. ex DC) J.F.Macbr. – longrunner
*'' Rorippa sessiliflora'' – stalkless yellowcress
*'' Rorippa sinuata'' (Nutt.) Hitchc. – spreading yellowcress, west yellowcress
*'' Rorippa sphaerocarpa'' (A.Gray) Britton – roundfruit yellowcress
*'' Rorippa subumbellata'' Rollins – Tahoe yellowcress, Lake Tahoe yellowcress
*'' Rorippa sylvestris'' (L.) Bess. – creeping yellowcress, yellow fieldcress, keek
*'' Rorippa tenerrima'' – Modoc yellowcress
*'' Rorippa teres'' – southern marsh yellowcress

References

External links

Brassicaceae: APG II.
Missouri Botanical Garden.

{{Authority control

Brassicaceae genera