Endophytic bacteria discovered in oil body organelle of liverworts (Marchantiophyta)

Abstract Oil bodies are unique organelles with unknown physiological function only present in liverworts (Marchantiophyta). We show that oil bodies host masses of endophytic bacteria derived through cell division in apical meristems, leading to oil body formation in maturing cells. The early divergence of liverworts in land plant evolution indicates that this is one of the oldest symbioses in terrestrial plants with implications for early land plant evolution.