Plant roots evolved at least twice, and step by step | Susannah Lydon

The discover of a unique rooting anatomy from 407m years ago supports theory roots evolved at least twice, and step by stepMost of us do not spend much time contemplating plant roots. Not only do they suffer from the wider issue ofplant blindness, but they are also the bit of the plant that is not visible. In terms of getting people excited about plant science, it ’s a tough gig. This is a shame, because plant roots are critical to all of our lives: no roots means no food. Roots provide anchorage, and allow plants to gain water and nutrients from the soil. They also form akey symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, which provide minerals from the soil in return for a steady supply of carbs from the plant.In the modern world, we can easily divide plants into the ones that have roots and the ones that don ’t. The flowering plants (angiosperms) and the other vascular plant groups (conifers and other seed plants, ferns, horsetails and clubmosses) all have a recognisable root, defined by having a meristem of rapidly-dividing, undifferentiated cells, and by having a root cap, which protects the apex of the growing root and which is where the plant perceives gravity.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Science Plants Source Type: news