How to get a handle on carbon dioxide uptake by plants
A Rutgers-led team of scientists recommends combining two cutting-edge tools to help understand climate change.
Land Plants
Articles tagged with Land Plants
Global drivers of temperature tolerance in plants
Cold tolerance is more variable than heat tolerance across plant species and regions, reflecting evolutionary and geographical histories. Temperate plants are particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Algal genome provides insights into first land plants
The Penium margaritaceum genome provides insights into the origins of land plants by revealing footprints of adaptations for UV radiation protection and cell wall structure. The genome contains genes involved in regulatory systems, hormone signaling, and mucilage production, which are essential for structural support.
New ancient plant captures snapshot of evolution
Researchers have discovered a new ancient plant species that provides a unique glimpse into the evolutionary process of reproductive biology in seed plants. The 400 million-year-old fossilized specimen reveals a spectrum of spore sizes, a precursor to specialized strategies in land plants.
Ancient hornwort genomes could lead to crop improvement
Research on ancient hornwort genomes has identified genes that boost carbon dioxide concentration, increasing yield, and those promoting symbiosis with bacteria for nitrogen acquisition. This discovery may lead to more efficient crops requiring less fertilizer.
Hornwort genomes could lead to crop improvement
Researchers sequenced three hornwort genomes, revealing genes that could boost crop efficiency and reduce nitrogen fertilizer use. The findings shed light on the evolution of early land plants and provide insights into the unique biology of hornworts.
How three genes rule plant symbioses
A study published in Nature Plants reveals that three genes are shared exclusively by plants forming intracellular symbiosis with different microbial partners. This finding demonstrates a conserved genetic program underlying diverse types of symbioses, allowing plants to access additional nutrients.
1 billion-year-old green seaweed fossils identified, relative of modern land plants
Virginia Tech paleontologists have discovered 1 billion-year-old micro-fossils of green seaweeds that could be the ancestor of early land plants and trees. The fossils, found in rock near Dalian in northern China, are barely visible to the naked eye and display complex multicellularity.
Scientists uncover how an explosion of new genes explain the origin of land plants
Scientists discovered two bursts of new genes that drove the evolution of land plants, contradicting previous gradualistic views. These genetic innovations enabled plant multicellularity and adaptation to terrestrial environments.
Nearly 40% of species are very rare and are vulnerable to climate change
A new University of Arizona study found that 36.5% of all land plant species are very rare, with many clustered in hotspots like the Northern Andes and Southeast Asia. These regions face a disproportionate risk of climate change and human disruption, threatening their survival.
How plants handle stress
An international research team investigated how evolutionary changes in receptor proteins led to the development of sensing mechanisms that aid plant stress responses. They found that the closest living algae relatives of land plants have a complete set of genes that strongly resemble the genetic framework used by land plants.
System by which plants have formed secondary buds since ancient times illuminated
Research identifies GCAM1 transcription factor crucial for secondary bud formation in liverworts, revealing a common mechanism with angiosperms. This breakthrough has potential applications for increasing crop production through controlled axillary shoot formation.
Researchers discover the 'KARAPPO' gene and illuminate vegetative reproduction
The 'KARAPPO' gene is essential for initiating gemma development in liverwort, triggering cell elongation and asymmetrical cell divisions. This discovery has fundamental implications for understanding vegetative reproduction mechanisms and their potential applications in agriculture and biotechnology.
To grow or to flower: Genes IDed in early land plant descendant also found in modern crops
Researchers identified microRNAs that regulate plant reproduction in ancient liverwort species, also found in modern crops. The discovery may lead to new applications for predicting harvest times and improving crop yields.
Early life on Earth limited by enzyme
A study proposes that the nitrogenase enzyme, essential for photosynthesis, blocked its own activity at 2% atmospheric oxygen levels, stabilizing oxygen levels for nearly two billion years. This negative feedback loop prevented further oxygen production and explains why oxygen levels rose to today's levels.
Fungi living in cattail roots could improve our picture of ancient ecoystems
A new study found that fungi have a harder time growing in cattail roots underwater, suggesting that plants may not have relied on fungal helpers to get onto land. The research provides a new tool for understanding prehistoric ecosystems and challenges previous narratives about plant-fungal interactions.
Finding of STEMIN (stem cell inducing factor) for feasible reprogramming in plants
A team of scientists has identified a stem cell inducing factor called STEMIN that enables the direct conversion of leaf cells to stem cells in plants. This discovery sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying stem cell formation and regeneration in land plants.
Ancient defense strategy continues to protect plants from pathogens
Scientists discovered a suite of microbe-responsive gene families that date back to early land plant evolution in distantly related plants. These genes are often associated with stress-response in flowering plants and provide increased protection against biotic stresses.
How plants conquered land
A study reveals that unique genetic features in desiccation-sensing algae enabled the colonization of terrestrial habitats. The SAL1-PAP chloroplast retrograde signaling mechanism allowed early land plants to sense drought and protect vital photosynthetic tissue, facilitating their adaptation to harsh environments.
Plants' drought alert system has unlikely evolutionary origin: underwater algae
Researchers discovered that plants' built-in drought detection system has an unlikely origin: freshwater-dwelling streptophyte algae. This signaling pathway, which triggers plants' drought defenses, has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of millions of years and exists across most plant lineages.
Researchers investigate a billion years of coexistence between plants and fungi
A team of researchers studied the evolution of plants and fungi over 1 billion years to find that their coexistence played a key role in shaping their biodiversities. The study found that fungal colonization of land was associated with the emergence of terrestrial green algae, which preceded the origin of land plants.
Nontraditional genetic code in parasitic plant
Researchers sequenced and analyzed the plastid genomes of two species of Balanophora, a fully parasitic mushroom-like plant, revealing a nontraditional genetic code. The discovery includes a novel stop codon TAG that encodes tryptophan, and most genes involved in protein synthesis reside outside the traditional plastid genome.
Machine learning identifies plants at risk of extinction
A machine-learning approach predicts plant species at risk of extinction using open-source data for over 150,000 land plant species. The approach identifies variables predicting extinction risk and calculates probability of a species being designated as endangered.
Photosynthesis like a moss
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a unique structure of photosystem I in the moss Physcomitrella patens, which is different from other types of plants. This finding may help understand plant terrestrialization and develop artificial photosynthesis.
Elucidating the Chara genome: Implications for emergence of land plants in Paleozoic era
The study's findings suggest that Chara braunii possesses all the necessary genes for cell division and phytohormone biosynthesis similar to those found in land plants. Additionally, it contains genes encoding Aux/IAA and ARF transcription factors involved in auxin response, which were not present in Klebsormidium nitens.
New insights into plants' conquest of land
Researchers at the University of Bristol have revealed insights into how plants evolved from simple aquatic algae to complex, upright forms. The study found that CLAVATA peptides control cell growth and division at plant tips, enabling 3D shapes and multiple directional growth.
Algae have land genes
Research on freshwater algae Chara braunii reveals ancient genetic traits associated with plant adaptation, including the stress hormone abscisic acid and electrical signal transmission. These findings provide insights into the evolutionary origins of land-dwelling plants.
International collaboration finds land plant genes in ancient aquatic alga
An international collaboration sequenced and analyzed the genome of Chara braunii, a freshwater green alga closely related to land plants. The study identified key genes that originated in a common ancestor shared by Chara and land plants, revealing that some important plant functions evolved before land plants existed.
Stomata -- the plant pores that give us life -- arise thanks to a gene called MUTE
A University of Washington-led team discovered that the MUTE gene regulates stomatal development in plants, controlling cell division and gas exchange. The study found that MUTE activates genes that promote cell division and repressors that prevent further division, resulting in a tightly coupled sequence of activation and repression.
Research shows first land plants were parasitized by microbes
Researchers found that liverworts can be infected by Phytophthora palmivora and respond with proteins similar to those in flowering plants. The discovery reveals early land plants were genetically equipped to respond to microbial infections, indicating an ancient relationship between plants and microbes.
Stress signaling in ancestors of land plants
Gene expression studies reveal genes involved in stress response signaling in streptophyte algae, the ancient ancestors of land plants. These findings provide insight into the evolution of land plant stress response mechanisms.
Molecular motor mystery solved: Novel protein rounds out plant cells' machinery
A research team led by Weihong Qiu has discovered a novel kinesin-14 motor that expands current understanding of the evolution and design principle of motor proteins. The discovery was made in land plants, which lack dynein but have many kinesin-14 motors.
Plants colonized the earth 100 million years earlier than previously thought
New research reveals that plants originated 100 million years earlier than previously believed, with ancient plant fossils now estimated to be around 320 million years old. This discovery challenges existing models of atmospheric change and highlights the critical role of early plant life in shaping Earth's climate.
The secret lives of ancient land plants
The study of Marchantia polymorpha's genome sheds light on land plant evolution, showing liverworts possess ancestral characteristics. The findings have significant implications for molecular and genetic studies, providing insights into future agricultural applications.
Liverwort genes and land plant evolution
The liverwort's genome has provided insight into the transition from algae to land plants, identifying genes critical for plant growth and development. The study also found that early plants developed strategies for water retention and distribution, which are still employed by modern plants.
Scientists find world's oldest fossil mushroom
Researchers at University of Illinois find ancient fungal specimen with gills under cap, revealing insights into fungal evolution and adaptation to terrestrial environments. The oldest known fungus fossil, Gondwanagaricites magnificus, pushes the timeline for fungi's existence by millions of years.
Low level of oxygen in Earth's middle ages delayed evolution for 2 billion years
Researchers found that low atmospheric oxygen levels from the Middle Ages lasted for 2 billion years, hindering complex life forms' emergence. The Great Oxidation Event introduced modern oxygen levels, and land plants played a crucial role in this change.
ABA: Evolution of a plant hormone
Researchers found that the plant hormone ABA did not yet regulate water balance in early land plants like ferns. Instead, it played a key role in sex determination. The study suggests that the evolution of ABA's function changed as plants transitioned to flowering plants.
How plants make friends with fungi
Researchers identified MIG1 gene controlling root cortex development and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi symbiosis. This enables plants to extract nutrients from the ground, leading to improved growth and health.
Humble moss helped create our oxygen-rich atmosphere
Early land plants like moss helped create modern levels of atmospheric oxygen, according to researchers. The study suggests that these simple plants' emergence and evolution permanently increased the flux of organic carbon into sedimentary rocks, driving up oxygen levels in a second oxygenation event.
Feeding the world by rewiring plant 'mouths'
Researchers have discovered ways to harness the development of stomata in grasses to boost carbon dioxide uptake and water efficiency. By rewiring the systems regulating stomata formation, scientists can improve growth performance in crops like maize, rice, and wheat.
How plants conquered the land
Researchers at the University of Leeds discovered a key gene, ANR, that enabled plants to tolerate extreme dehydration, allowing them to colonize land around 500 million years ago. The gene is unique to basal land plants and plays a crucial role in responding to stress hormones like ABA.
Plants crawled onto land earlier than we give them credit, genetic evidence suggests
Researchers present genetic and morphological evidence that terrestrial green algae are the ancestors of modern land plants, contradicting long-held theories. The study's findings have significant implications for our understanding of plant evolution and adaptation to life on land.
Ancient alga knew how to survive on land before it left water & evolved into first plant
Scientists have discovered how an ancient alga could inhabit land and survive without a symbiotic relationship with fungi. The discovery sheds light on the origins of life on Earth and reveals that the alga had the necessary genes to interact with beneficial fungi while still in the water.
Ancestors of land plants were wired to make the leap to shore
Research reveals that ancient aquatic algae were genetically pre-adapted to form symbiotic relationships with microorganisms, crucial for plant nutrient acquisition. This finding sheds light on the evolution of land plants from freshwater algae and could help unlock efficient nutrient acquisition in crops like cereals.
Plant light sensors came from ancient algae
A new study from Duke University found that plant light-sensing molecules were inherited from ancient algae, contradicting the prevailing idea of bacterial origins. The researchers analyzed 300 DNA and RNA sequences from phytochrome proteins in a wide range of algae and land plants.
Invisible helpers of the sea: Marine bacteria boost growth of tiny ocean algae
Researchers have found that diatoms grow faster in the presence of Sulfitobacter bacteria, which release a growth hormone beneficial to land plants. This discovery sheds light on the complex interactions between marine microbes and their environment, with potential implications for understanding ocean productivity and climate change.
Structure of world's largest single cell is reflected at the molecular level
Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center used the world's largest single-celled organism, Caulerpa taxifolia, to investigate the nature of structure and form in plants. They found that different parts of the cell show distinctly different RNA patterns, which are also shared with land plants.
Algae use same molecular machinery as land plants to respond to a plant hormone
Researchers discovered that charophytes, a lineage of green algae closest to land plants, can detect ethylene gas and adapt to environmental conditions. The study found nearly identical molecular machinery in both algae and land plants, with implications for understanding plant stress response and evolution.
New study uses DNA sequences to look back in time at key events in plant evolution
A team of international researchers used DNA sequences to reconstruct the evolution of plants, revealing new insights into their relationships and adaptations. The study, part of the One Thousand Plants initiative, generated millions of gene sequences from diverse plant species.
Marriage of convenience with a fungus
Researchers found that not all plants react to the fungus in the same way, with some experiencing increased catalpol and citric acid levels while others show little change. The study's findings suggest that the impact of the fungal symbiosis on plant chemistry is not uniform across all plant species.
Algae 'see' a wide range of light
Researchers at UC Davis discovered that aquatic algae can perceive light across the visible spectrum, allowing them to adapt to changing conditions. This broad spectral coverage helps algae make use of whatever light they can in the ocean.
Berkeley graduate student brings extinct plants to life
A graduate student at UC Berkeley is using a new technique to recreate the appearance of ancient plants, shedding light on their evolution. The study, led by Jeff Benca, uses fossil fragments to create lifelike images of extinct plant species, including Leclercqia scolopendra, a centipede clubmoss from the Devonian Period.
Calcium waves help the roots tell the shoots
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison discovered that calcium waves can transmit information in plant cells, allowing them to respond quickly to environmental stressors. The team found that these waves are involved in processing information and sending rapid signals to help plants adapt to changing conditions.
Pond-dwelling powerhouse's genome points to its biofuel potential
The duckweed genome reveals its potential as a biofuel source, with the smallest known plant genome containing fewer than 20,000 protein-encoding genes. This reduced gene count leads to unique characteristics such as neoteny and arrested development.
A universal RNA extraction protocol for land plants
A new RNA extraction protocol for land plants has been developed, allowing for the extraction of high-quality RNA from a wide variety of plant species and tissue types. This protocol will greatly facilitate RNA-based studies of non-model plant species and enable comparative analyses of transcriptomes across diverse lineages.
Evidence of destruction in Tacloban, Philippines
The study analyzed ASTER images of Tacloban before and after the typhoon, revealing widespread destruction. The storm surge caused mud-covered ground, bare trees, and destroyed buildings, with some areas showing no vegetation.
New cell component important to tea and wine-making
Researchers at Oxford University Press UK identified the tannosome organelle, responsible for producing complex chemicals used in plant defense and protection. This discovery sheds light on the synthesis of tannins, a key component in making tea and red wine taste their distinctive way.
Scientists offer first definitive proof of bacteria-feeding behavior in green algae
Researchers have captured conclusive images of green alga consuming bacteria, providing evidence for a critical step in the evolution of photosynthetic algae and land plants. The discovery sheds light on an early evolutionary event that fundamentally changed the trajectory of plant and animal evolution.
Fires in eastern Russia
In eastern Russia, fires are set to clear land for planting and renew pastures. Fire is used globally as a tool for managing resources, mitigating larger wildfires.