The five adaptations that allow plants to colonize the land include the transformation of generations, stomata, cuticle, roots, and association with mycorrhizal fungi.
Pants colonize the land because they were the first ones on the ground. They have a change in their lifecycle hence the reason for colonizing land. Plants undergo a haplodiplontic stage, a stage common in the pollen grains. It is whereby gametophyte forms, then sporophyte. The evolution in plant internal structure allows it to adapt and survive on land. The change in the plants’ lifecycle explains their tolerance on the ground despite the climatic conditions. Since plants can reproduce either asexually or asexually, their growth on earth is rapid hence their reason for colonization. This feature is effective because it enables plants to grow anywhere, including on top of existing ones or walls such as the Red Valerian. Since plants are endangered species because of the existence of animals, they have also formed spines and thorns to protect themselves from external harm.
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Stomata is the breathing system in plants. Just like human beings, plants also need a breathing system to take in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, despite not having lungs. Stomata are pore, which facilitates the exchange of gases amid plant cells and their surroundings. The pores exist in all land plant generations apart from liverworts. Stomata, therefore, allows plants to survive on land because they serve as the breathing channel. Stomata also help plants in regulating the rate of evaporation.
The cuticle is a shield of the epidermis of leaves that protects plants from such external threats. Plants are endangered on land not only because of the existence of animals but also the environmental aspects. Environmental factors such as air and sun rays threaten the survival of plants. As a result, when they are exposed to too much UV light, they dry up. However, since the plants moved to the land, they formed a resistance to drying out (desiccation) with the help of their waxy cuticle. The cuticle is significant in plants because it helps prevents them from desiccation through evaporation. Plants are also surviving on land because the cuticle acts as a barrier to preventing water from getting to plant tissues. The cuticle is effective because it helps plants survive through dry and hot seasons.
Roots are plant organs found beneath the soil. They are significant for plant colonization on land because they provide the plant with support on the ground; to the soil. Besides, the root also has cells and tissues that make it strong to support plants for ages. Thus, explaining why most plant lineages are not depleted on land even after animals feed on them. Roots also support plants in the intake of water and nutrients from the soil, thus making them durable. Roots are also essential to plants because they help in holding soil in place (preventing erosion) when it rains; they act as the pillar of plants. The roots also help plants survive stormy weather from falling off the ground.
Plants also colonize land because of their association with mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizal is a mutual association formed between fungi and the roots of plants. The mycorrhizal fungi offer plants with an extra area for absorption of minerals and water from the soil. The resources attained by the mycorrhizal fungi are shared with the plant roots for an exchange of photosynthetic sugar with the fungi. The mycorrhizal fungi help plants to grow strong, thus surviving longer compared to plants grown without mycorrhizal fungi. The mycorrhizal fungi are effective for plants colonization on land because they supply plants with extra nutrients, thus making them healthier and stronger.
