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Diversification of Plants
Diversification of Plants o One bryophyte-like ancestor of all plants About 475 million years ago o Major lineages marked by key adaptations o 2 critical adaptations for land plants A cuticle leaf protection; prevent water loss Sporopollenin coated spores o Liverwarts are the most basal taxon closest to ancestral green alga o Pterophytes are closest to first seed plants Bryophytes Nonvascular Plants o What are Bryophytes Liverworts Phylum Hepatophyta Mosses Phylum Bryophyta Hornworts Phylum Anthocerophyta o Common Features: Haploid gametophyte is dominant, independent form in life cycle Makes eggs and flagellated sperm Most are small, low growing, moist areas Lacks vascular/supportive tissue Very thin body: depends on diffusion Not very efficient diffusion is slow With rhizoids for attachment (not true roots) Diploid sporophyte dependent on gametophyte for food and water Grows within archegonium of gametophyte Sporangium makes many haploid spores o Moss Life Cycle Spores a haploid cell that will grow into a multicellular haploid gametophyte through the process of mitosis Sperm from male antheridia use water to reach into the archegonia which contains egg Gametophyte produces gametes When a sperm reaches an egg fertilization occurs forms a multicellular diploid sporophyte through mitosis o Ecological Importance

pioneer species in poor soils Major producers in cold or high regions Sphagnum peat moss bogs: important wetlands o Also harvested for fuel and gardening Early Seedless Vascular Plants o Evolution of larger sporophyte From unbranched to dichotomous-branching many sporangia Branched sporophyte produces more spores more offspring in the form of gametophytes More spores = more offspring o Vascular Tissue supports taller stems helps transport water and nutrients Xylem caries water and minerals Xylem tissue starts off as living cells then they die Tracheids in most vascular plants (walls supported by tough polymer lignin what makes wood hard) Flow of water is by evaporative transpiration Phloem transports sugars and other products Made of living cells o Taller sporophyte growth improves access to light Does its own photosynthesis in stems Does not depend on gametophyte for food o Roots evolve from underground stems Anchor larger plant Absorb water and minerals Mycorrhizae help Evolution of Leaves o Microphylls are first leaves: single vein Very small Today still (and only) present in Lycophtes o Megaphylls later Lager, with branched veins In Pterophytes and seed plants o Sporohylls: leaves that bear sporangia Sori clusters of sporangia on sporophylls Strobilus cone-like group of sporophylls