A comprehensive literature study of morphology, taxonomy, phylogeny and biochemical aspects of genus Utricularia

Abstract

Utricularia L. (bladderworts) is one of the largest known carnivorous plant genera which come under Lentibulariaceae family. It comprises of about 240 species that are classified into three subgenera and 32 sections. Utricularia have unique morphology and can colonize in wide range of ecosystems such as lithophytes, epiphytes, rheophytes, etc. These plants are excellent specimens for future researches on physiology of carnivorous plants, trap evolution, biochemistry of pray capture, microbial symbiosis, aquatic phytoremediation and molecular phylogeny of angiosperm genome. Recent studies have shown that, some species of Utricularia and Genlisea have the smallest genome size in angiosperms. Three lineages in Utricularia genus have evolved independently which have genome size of less than 100 Mbp. Many researchers have also reported that submerged aquatic macrophytes of Utricularia can accumulate heavy metals at higher concentrations. The present review aimed to study the taxonomy, molecular phylogeny of Utricularia and its utilization for phytoremediation of polluted water bodies.