The first descriptions of sex chromosomes in plants, of the continuity
of chromosomes during the mitotic cycle and of non-Mendelian inherita
nce as well as the introduction of UV-mutagenesis to genetic research
are landmarks in biological sciences first achieved by scientists work
ing on bryophytes. Haploidy of the tissue facilitates mutant isolation
and many developmental moss mutants have been isolated. Early moss de
velopment is triggered by auxin, by cytokinin and by light, mainly act
ing via phytochrome and a blue-light receptor. Due to the simplicity o
f the plants, development can be pinpointed to the differentiation of
a single cell and be analysed in living tissue, making mosses ideal ca
ndidates for the analysis of development in an integrated approach of
cell and molecular biology. Molecular genetic techniques have been app
lied mainly to Physcomitrella patens (Hedw.) B.S.G., where efficient p
rotocols for transformation of nuclear DNA have been established and s
everal nuclear, chloroplast and mitochondrial genes have been analysed
. These studies reveal that Physcomitrella may be an appropriate model
to study plant development in molecular terms. Recently, it has been
shown that, in this species, nuclear genes can be targeted very effici
ently by homologous recombination, now opening the door to reverse gen
etics for plant biologists.