Using laser ablation microscopy, the study dissected the role of the first cell row and a contiguous stem cell quorum in the apical notches of germinating Marchantia gemmae, revealing that these cells are essential for meristem activity and that apical notches communicate via auxin‑mediated signals to regulate dominance and regeneration. The findings support a model of intra‑, inter‑, and extra‑notch communication governing meristem formation and maintenance in Marchantia.

The study investigates the role of the chromatin regulator MpSWI3, a core subunit of the SWI/SNF complex, in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. A promoter mutation disrupts male gametangiophore development and spermiogenesis, causing enhanced vegetative propagation, and transcriptomic analysis reveals that MpSWI3 regulates genes controlling reproductive initiation, sperm function, and asexual reproduction, highlighting its ancient epigenetic role in balancing vegetative and reproductive phases.

The authors adapted OpenPlant kit CRISPR/Cas9 tools to enable multiplex gRNA expression from a single transcript using tRNA sequences in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, markedly enhancing editing efficiency and scalability. They coupled this vector system with a simplified, optimized thallus transformation protocol, providing a rapid and versatile platform for generating CRISPR/Cas9 mutants and advancing functional genomics in this model species.