Question

In a one-page essay, summarize the problems faced by plants as they moved from the water onto the land. How have various land plants solved these problems?

Answer 1

Problems faced by plants during the transition from water to land:

i. Earlier plants such as bryophytes and algae are completely dependent on water. So, it was a major obstacle for the plants during the transition to land.

ii. Bryophytes have monolayered leaves which could get desiccated leading to death if water is absent.

iii. Since bryophytes grow normally near water bodies, they do not exhibit well developed vascular system.

iv. In bryophytes and lycophytes, stomata do not close in response to stress.

Plant adaptations to terrestrial transition:

i. Higher plants do not depend on water for reproduction.

ii. Leafs and other organs are multilayered which prevent desiccation.

iii. Presence of thick cuticle.

iv. Well developed vascular tissue

v. Stomatal closure is sensitive to abiotic stress.

vi. A well-developed root system