Wetlands are strongly affected by seasonal hydrological changes and extreme drought events that can cause low water levels. In response, some freshwater plants can produce emergent growth forms that experience a drastic change in environmental conditions. Potamogeton wrightii is a freshwater plant, which grows primarily underwater but can also produce terrestrial shoots when emerged. The objective of this study was to investigate the anatomical and physiological responses of P. wrightii to these two distinct environments, as well as the genetic responses behind them. Aerial leaves of P. wrightii were thicker, and had larger amounts of cutin and wax, developed stomata, had a greater tolerance to strong light, and a greater photochemical efficiency. In contrast, submerged leaves had a greater ability to use HCO₃⁻ and to synthesize photosynthetic pigments. The differentially expressed genes including cutin and wax biosynthesis, photosynthesis-antenna proteins and photosynthesis pathways, clarified the molecular adaptive mechanisms in P. wrightii to aquatic and terrestrial environments. The capacity of P. wrightii to survive fluctuating water level can be attributed to its genotype that resulted from its evolution from land plants and its phenotypic plasticity. Further work is needed to assess the possibility and costs of aerial leaves to survive when re-submerged.

湿地受到季节性水文变化和极端干旱事件的强烈影响，这些事件可能导致低水位。作为回应，一些淡水植物可以产生经历环境条件急剧变化的紧急生长形式。Potamogeton wrightii是一种淡水植物，主要​​生长在水下，但也可以在出现时产生陆生枝条。本研究的目的是调查P. wrightii对这两种不同环境的解剖和生理反应，以及它们背后的遗传反应。P. wrightii 的气生叶更厚，有更多的角质和蜡，发达的气孔，对强光的耐受性更强，光化学效率更高。相比之下，沉水叶片具有更强的使用 HCO ₃ ^-和合成光合色素的能力。差异表达的基因包括角质和蜡生物合成、光合作用-天线蛋白和光合作用途径，阐明了P. wrightii对水生和陆地环境的分子适应机制。P. wrightii的容量能够在波动的水位中生存可归因于其从陆地植物进化而来的基因型及其表型可塑性。需要进一步的工作来评估重新淹没时空中叶子存活的可能性和成本。