Topic
Terrestrial Plants
Episodes and research papers from From First Principles that help explain Terrestrial Plants from the ground up.
Research
Papers and studies featured by the show.
The role of mycorrhizal fungi in the evolution of terrestrial plants: a molecular perspective
Imagine the first plants were like toddlers trying to leave a swimming pool. The dry land was a scary place with no easy way to get food or water. Then, they met fungi, which are like expert miners with a massive underground network of tiny tunnels. The fungi were great at finding water and nutrients but couldn't make their own food. So, they made a deal: the fungi would act as a root extension, bringing the plant water and minerals, and in return, the plant would share the sugar it made from sunlight. This paper uses genetic 'archaeology' to prove this deal happened almost half a billion years ago and was the key that allowed plants to conquer the land, eventually creating the world we live in.