A comparative gene co-expression analysis using self-organizing maps on two congener filmy ferns identifies specific desiccation tolerance mechanisms associated to their microhabitat preference

Background: Filmy-ferns (Hymenophyllaceae) are poikilohydric, homoiochlorophyllous desiccation-tolerant (DT) epiphytes. They can colonize lower and upper canopy environments of humid forest. Filmy-ferns desiccate rapidly (hours), contrasting with DT angiosperms (days/weeks). It has been proposed tha