New study reveals how ancient plants and soil fungi turned the Earth green
A new breakthrough by scientists at the University of Sheffield, involving scientists from Kew, has shed light on how the Earth’s first plants began to colonise the land over 470 million years ago by forming a partnership with soil fungi.
04 Nov 2010
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Scientists have long-suspected that soil fungi formed mutually beneficial relationships with early land plants to play an essential role in assisting their initial colonisation of terrestrial environments.
The research, which was published on 2 November 2010 in Nature Communications, has provided essential missing evidence showing that an ancient plant group worked together with soil-dwelling fungi to ‘green’ the Earth in the early Palaeozoic era, nearly half a billion years ago.
The research, which also involved experts from Kew, Imperial College London and the University of Sydney, has provided new insights into our understanding of the evolving dynamic behaviour of the Earth’s land plants and fungi.
By studying these ancient plants we open a window on the past to investigate how the earliest land plants evolved. Our results support the idea that the ‘greening’ of the Earth was promoted by a symbiosis between plants and fungi.
Professor David Beerling, from the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield
Scientists have long-suspected that soil fungi formed mutually beneficial relationships with early land plants to play an essential role in assisting their initial colonisation of terrestrial environments. However, until now there has been a lack of evidence demonstrating if and how the earliest ancient land plants, from the early Palaeozoic era (over 470 million years ago), might have cooperated with fungi for mutual benefit.
Making this new discovery
The team studied a thalloid liverwort plant, which is a member of the most ancient group of land plants that still exists and still shares many of the original features of its ancestors. They used controlled-environment growth rooms to simulate a CO2-rich atmosphere, similar to that of the Palaeozoic era when these plants originated. This environment significantly amplified the benefits of the fungi for the plant’s growth and so favoured the early formation of the association between the plant and its fungal partner.
The team found that when the thalloid liverwort was colonised by the fungi, it significantly enhanced photosynthetic carbon uptake, growth and asexual reproduction, factors that had a beneficial impact on plant fitness. The plants grow and reproduce better when colonised by symbiotic fungi because the fungi provide essential soil nutrients. In return, the fungi also benefit by receiving carbon from the plants. The research found that each plant was supporting fungi that had an area of 1-2 times that of a tennis court.
A window into the past
Professor David Beerling, from the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield, said: “By studying these ancient plants we open a window on the past to investigate how the earliest land plants evolved. Our results support the idea that the ‘greening’ of the Earth was promoted by a symbiosis between plants and fungi. It shows that plants didn’t get a toe-hold on land without teaming up with fungi – this has long been suspected, but until now not investigated. It will require us to think again about the crucial role of cooperation between organisms that drove fundamental changes in the ecology of our planet.”
Martin Bidartondo from the Jodrell Laboratory at Kew, said: “Fungi are present in every type of habitat throughout the world and are essential for many plants to grow. It is exciting that we are now beginning to discover the fungi associated with 'lower' plants, and that many more still remain to be investigated."
Scientific Research & Data
- Mutualistic mycorrhiza-like symbiosis in the most ancient group of land plants, by Claire P. Humphreys , Peter J. Franks , Mark Rees, Martin I. Bidartondo, Jonathan R. Leake & David J. Beerling, published in Nature Communications
- Find out more about the work of Kew's Mycology Team
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1 comment on 'New study reveals how ancient plants and soil fungi turned the Earth green'
meera jarvis says
07/11/2010 11:41:50 AM | Report abuse
Thank you -- just read the abstract. Have always suspected that mycorrhizas had a role in facilitating the emergence of terrestrial plants. Wonder too about the role of bryophtes and lichens in this early colonisation of the land by plants. Thank you. Meera Jarvis