The Importance of Plants, their origins and ways of life

Objectives of the lecture:

1. Describe some ways that plants provide the foundation of life.

2. Provide the basic sequence of plant evolution and its relationship

to changes in earth landforms and environment.

3. Describe the endosymbiosis theory.

4. Identify important adaptations of plants that enable them to live on

land.

Text book pages:

548-553
604, 609,
626-639,
 Ginkgo biloba
Motile male sperm

The only surviving species of a diverse group originating in

the Permian, closely related fossils 200m ybp

Illustration in Pen Tsao

Kang Mu of Ginkgo with
seeds (1578)

Ginkgo biloba extract (Gbe) and two ingredients, bilobalide

and ginkgolide B, are part of a review of botanicals being used
as dietary supplements in the United States. Deregulation of
botanicals now permits Gbe to be sold as a dietary
supplement to a willing public eager to "improve brain
functioning" or "promote radical scavenging activity".
Ginkgo biloba- the wonder drug!
Today everyone is looking for a
way to enhance his or her
Medicinal!!
workouts. So what can you do,
well, take some Ginkgo Biloba.

What, ginkgo? I thought that was

just for old people who couldn't
keep a train of thought? Nope,
you're wrong. Ginkgo can be a
very beneficial herb to
bodybuilders as well.

http://www.teenbodybuilding.com/gingko.htm
 Plan for Biology 220 Spring 2010
Wk
5 Th April 29 Importance of plants, their origins and problems.
6 M May 3 Exam
Tu May 4 The Dicot plant, morphology, meristems, cell types, and tissues
W May 5 Cellulose, wood structure and water transport in the plant
Th May 6 Structure and function of the leaf.
7 M May 10 Stomata: structure, control, CO2 exchange and transpiration
Tu May 11 Photosynthesis I: Chemistry, chloroplast, chlorophyll, action spectra
W May 12 Photosynthesis II: continued
Th May 13 Photosynthesis III: C4 and CAM photosynthesis, photo-inhibition
8 M May 17 Photosynthesis IV: canopy photosynthesis and global change.
Tu May 18 Translocation
W May 19 Plant nutrition
Th May 20 Exam #3 on lectures May 3 through May 17.
9 M May 24 Plant reproduction and diversity.
Tu May 25 Plant reproduction continued
W May 26 Seed formation, dormancy and germination.
Th May 27 Plant hormones and development
10 M May 31 Memorial Day
Tu June 1 Plant hormones and development continued.
W June 2 Fungi, decomposition, mycorrhizae, and lichens.
Th June 3 Fungi continued.
W June 9 Final Exam: Cumulative Plant 2:30-4:20.
 Why are plants important for human life?
Page 627-630
How do they do that?
1. Plants produce oxygen Green plant photosynthesis

2. Plants build soil Rock weathering and carbon build-up and decomposition

3. Plants hold soil Root strength and ramification through soil

4. Plants hold water The “reservoir” function of plants and soil

4. Plants moderate the local climate Evapo-transpiration and particle capture

6. Plants provide food, fuel and fibre

7. Plants provide drugs

Next slide
Figure 30-4-Table 30-1

Know 5 of these

What functions might these substances have in plants?

 Opium poppy, Papaver somniferum

The opium poppy is the principal source of all natural opiates. Opiates are
extracted from opium and poppy straw. Opium is the latex harvested by
making incisions on the green capsules (seed pods).

Evolution?

Mature seed pod of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) with milky latex
sap dripping from a recent cut. The latex sap contains a mixture of naturally-
occurring narcotic alkaloids including morphine and codeine. Morphine is
acetylated to produce diacetylmorphine, better known as heroin.
Figure 30-8

Cones from Araucaria mirabilis,

Cooksonia pertoni Seed fern leaves an early gymnosperm
Archaefructus, an early angiosperm

Origin Carboniferous:
Silurian-Devonian
of land Lycophytes and Gymnosperms abundant Angiosperms abundant
explosion horsetails abundant
plants

475 mya 444 359 299 145 Present

First evidence Most major Extensive coal- Both wet and dry environments Diversification of flowering plants
of land plants: morphological forming swamps blanketed with green plants for
cuticle, spores, innovations: the first time
sporangia stomata, vascular
tissue, roots, leaves
History of evolution of major plant types on land
 Fo
M rma
o t
Ea on ion
rth for of
m
Li fo s sol
q u rm ar
id at sy
w i o st
at n c e
er

atmosphere.
om m

Hadean Eon
on p
Ea let
rt e
h

Millions of years ago (mya)

Fi
rs
fro t o
m cea
sp ns
ac ; h
O e ea
en v
r ig
Fi in ds y b
rs of om
ce t e lif ba
v
lls id e rd
en m
ce en
of t
ph

Archaean Eon
ot
os
yn
th
et
ic
Fi
rs
ph t ev
ot id

Position of the continents unknown

os en
yn ce
th o
es f o
Fi is xy
rs ge
All life is unicellular

(in t ro ni
c
at ck
m s
Fi os co
rs ph nt
te er ain
uk e in
ar an g
yo d ox
tic oc yg
Fi ea en
rs fo n)
tp ss
ho ils
to
sy
nt
he
Proterozoic Eon

tic
Fi eu
rs ka
o f t re ry
ot
se d es
xu alg
al ae
st ; f
ru irs
ct t
ur ev
es id
in ocean and ice.
Multicellular

Fi en
rs ce
Fi t li
organisms begin

rs ch
to diversify slowly

Most of Earth is covered

sy t s en
How did multi-cellular green organisms develop?

m po -li
Life’s Timeline: The Precambrian

co me ng ke
m tr es or
pl ic ; f ga
et an irs n
el im t ism
y
ox als bila
yg ; o te
en ce ral
at an ly
ed
The Precambrian (Hadean, Archaean, and Proterozoic Eons) included the origin of life, photosynthesis, and the oxygen
 How did multi-cellular green organisms develop?

Endosymbiosis
An endosymbiont is any organism that lives within the body or cells of
another organism, i.e. forming an endosymbiosis (Greek: ἔνδον endon
"within", σύν syn "together" and βίωσις biosis "living").

Examples:
nitrogen-fixing bacteria (called rhizobia) that live in root nodules
on legume roots,
single-celled algae inside reef-building corals,
and bacterial endosymbionts that provide essential nutrients to
about 10%–15% of insects.

Andreas Schimper observed in 1883 that the division of chloroplasts in green

plants closely resembled that of free-living cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
and tentatively proposed that green plants had arisen from a symbiotic union
of two organisms.

Margulis and Sagan (2001) "Life did not take over the globe by combat, but by networking"
Page 604 THE ENDOSYMBIOSIS THEORY FOR MITOCHONDRIA
AND CHLOROPLAST EVOLUTION

Proposed evolutionary origin for mitochondria

Aerobic
bacterium
Pyruvate
and O2 ATP
Anaerobic
eukaryote 1. Eukaryotic cell 2. Bacterium lives 3. Eukaryote supplies
surrounds and within eukaryotic bacterium with protection
engulfs bacterium. cell. and carbon compounds.
Bacterium supplies
eukaryote with ATP.

Each would have performed mutually benefiting functions from their symbiotic
relationship.  
The aerobic bacteria would have handled the toxic oxygen for the anaerobic
bacteria, and the anaerobic bacteria would utilize ingested food and protected the
aerobic "symbiote".
p609
Secondary Endosymbiosis
Serial ingestion of photosynthetic
bacteria by endosymbiontic
prokaryotes or eukaryotes led to the
ancestors of eukaryotic plants.

As the ingested photosynthetic

bacteria adapted to the ingesting
prokaryotic host cell, plastids, such
as the chloroplast evolved.
Primary plastids are found in some
algae because their plastids are
derived directly from a
Cyanobacterium.

All other lineages of plastids have arisen through secondary (or tertiary)
endosymbiosis, in which a eukaryote already possessing plastids is engulfed
by a second eukaryote. Considerable gene transfer has occurred among
genomes and, at times, between organisms.
 Mitochondria and chloroplasts contain DNA

The most convincing evidence of the descent of these organelles from

bacteria is the position of mitochondria and plastid DNA sequences in
phylogenetic trees of bacteria.

Mitochondria have sequences that clearly indicate origin from a group

of bacteria called the alpha-Proteobacteria.

Chloroplasts have DNA sequences that indicate origin from the

cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).

There are also organisms alive today, called

living intermediates, that are in a similar
endosymbiotic condition to the prokaryotic cells
and the aerobic bacteria. For example, the giant
amoeba Pelomyxa lacks mitochondria but has
aerobic bacteria that carry out a similar role. A
variety of corals, clams, snails, permanently
host algae in their cells.
Multiple nuclei
Multiple ingestions lead to a
variety of endosymbiotic
structures
Figure 30-39

Plant of the Day

Lycopodium species
 Life’s Timeline: The Paleozoic Era

Phanerozoic Eon: The Paleozoic Era included the origin early diversification of animals, land plants, and fungi.

nd
)
es

la
al
s,

on
h lo m

s)
de ers yla od

Fi t s ra in lan en ,
h s
rs e po s ts s

an

s
Fi st t ng d p , lic ant
h op

fis (G

i
ng
ile
bi
st
hi d r p hr

es
s gi

e i l

pt

fu
hi
) we

Fi t w siz ng r p
;
ec ds the art

ou n

av
rm ify

re
s ts p
la pl s ( ts

e
in fu
m e

rs e- fu la

nt an am
rs yc va s

et
le
t p ed d ec
t l ylu s (n

e
st po o ,

Fi om s, jaw
Fi tre te scu
fir ro s, ies

ag al

ik

yc
s

th
nt

til iz
n o iv

-l
ph an

om
th ate ell

i
Fi t fis cts

al
c rn th

w
ar rrh
la

fis

ts s
es
rs et ed
al zo

m
Ar ebr b j

l
as t fe wi
p

di

an se
e
se
t c co

til
y

am
im ryo

d
rt m

i
on

rs h

as

pl es
Fi t in

ep
an

rs y
ve t co

r i

m
Fi t m

tb

in t v
an t b

tb

tr
rs

t
t

rs
rs

rs

rs
rs

rs

rs
rs

rs
rs

Fi

Fi
Fi

Fi
Fi

Fi

Fi
Fi

Fi
Fi extinction

extinction

extinction
Carboniferous

Mass

Mass

Mass
Cambrian Ordovician Silurian Devonian Permian
Mississippian Pennsylvanian

Algae abundant, Echinoderms Coral First upland plant Insects diversify, Coal-forming swamps
marine (sea stars, sea reefs communities coal-forming swamps diminish; parts of
invertebrates urchins) diversify expand (evergreen forests), abundant, sharks Antarctica forested
diversify diversification of fish, abundant, radiation
emergence of of amphibians
amphibians

Laurentia

Pa
ng
ana

ea
n dw ana Gondwana
Go Gondw
Supercontinent of Gondwana Climate cold; Supercontinent of Laurentia Supercontinent Pangea
forms. Oceans cover much of extensive ice to the north and Gondwana assembles. Building of
North America. Climate not in Gondwana. to the south. Climate mild. Appalachian Mountains ends.
well known. Climate warm; little variation.
Atmospheric O2 and CO2 concentrations through geological time

Widespread arthropod
gigantism 70cm wing dragonfly
1m long millipede
and giant spiders

Origin of Denser atmosphere,

insect flight
Greater O2 partial pressure

CO2 removed from the

atmosphere by plant
synthesis and limestone type
rock formation
Carboniferous coal
formation
 Devonian plant community found at Rhynie, in Scotland. A reed-like
marsh, 370-380 million years ago.

Asteroxylon

MAIN FEATURES
Simple dichotomous branching

Sporangia

15 to 30 cm tall

No roots

Stomata with guard cells

Most had a central vascular strand

Cuticle

Asteroxylon had leaves –without a

Devonian vascular connection
plant
community
 Life’s Timeline: The Mesozoic Era

Phanerozoic Eon: The Mesozoic Era is sometimes called the Age of Reptiles.

t)
) lan
yx p
ur
s

ts
er g
ct

sa

pt rin

an
se

s
no

eo we

al
pl
in

m
di

ily
ha l o

s
ng

am
om
id

rc (f

nt nt
ki

ur

(A m

m
-fa
at
in

no es

ce t a
rs

er
sa
s

di

al
lia
dr

al

la irs
au

ird sp

a g l il
no

ic
r-

tp ;f
os

t b io

r
ta

tr
n
am

t m te
ra

rs g

rs e
en
ec

in

rs a

Fi t be
Fi t an
tm

ty

Fi t w
td

tc
tn

rs

rs

rs
rs

rs
rs

rs

rs

Fi
Fi

Fi
Fi

Fi
Fi

Fi

Fi
extinction

extinction

extinction
Mass

Mass

Mass
Triasssic Jurassic Cretaceous

Gymnosperms become dominant Gymnosperms continue Dinosaurs diversify Flowering plants diversify
land plants; extensive deserts to dominate land
Pan
Pang

Gon
gea

dwa
e

na
a

Pangea intact. Interior Pangea begins to break apart; Gondwana begins to break India separated from Madagascar,
of Pangea arid. Climate interior of continent still arid. apart; interior less arid. moves north; Rocky Mountains
very warm. form. Climate mild, temperate.
 Life’s Timeline: The Cenozoic Era

Phanerozoic Eon: The Cenozoic Era is nicknamed the Age of Mammals.

s
le
ha
w

ts
pl m

s
tic

an
il y r o

in
ua

m f

in
es

fa en

om
aq
t p es
at

y - ll
s

is po
rim
s

Ho s t h
ly

pe
Fi hor

s
ul

en
da est
ta

sa o
tf

e
m
rli
t

pi
rs

rs
rs

rs

ld

Ea
Fi
Fi

Fi

O
Paleogene Neogene
Paleocene Eocene Oligocene Miocene Pliocene Pleistocene

Diversification of Diversification of angiosperms Diversification of grazing mammals

mammalian orders and pollinating insects

Continents continue to drift apart. Strong drying trend in Continents close to present North and South America
Collision of India with Eurasia begins. Africa and other continents; position. Beginning of joined by land bridge.
Australia moves north from Antarctica. grasslands form. Alps and Antarctic ice cap. Opening Uplift of the Sierra Nevada.
Palms in Greenland and Patagonia. Himalayas begin to rise. of Red Sea. Worldwide glaciation.
 Adaptation to living on land
The land that plants colonized was hostile to life.

Soil development was minimal.

Land plants required several adaptations to be successful that require

multi-cellular tissues

mechanical strength for support,

exposed light catching surfaces,
anchoring system,
conducting system for water,
system for obtaining mineral nutrients,
a way to restrict water loss in desiccating air,
a means of reproducing and dispersing on land
 Things you need to know ...

1. Why plants are important for human life.

2. Some drugs derived from land plants.

3. The geological time periods when plants of different types were

abundant and how this relates to the environment of those periods.

4. The adaptations shown by plants to living on land.