Root suckering in a Triassic conifer from Antarctica: paleoecological and evolutionary implications

Area of Science:

• Paleobotany
• Evolutionary Biology
• Plant Anatomy

Background:

• Root suckering is a common vegetative regeneration strategy in extant woody plants.
• The macroevolutionary distribution of sprouting traits, including root suckering, remains poorly understood.
• Fossil plants with anatomical preservation offer insights into the evolutionary history of plant traits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence and significance of root suckering in fossil plants.
• To explore the evolutionary history of vegetative reproduction in seed plants.
• To document the earliest anatomical evidence of root suckering in the fossil record.

Main Methods:

• Studied anatomically preserved fossil conifer roots (Notophytum krauselii) from the Middle Triassic Fremouw Formation, Antarctica.
• Utilized the acetate peel technique for specimen preparation.
• Analyzed the specimen using reflected and transmitted light microscopy.

Main Results:

• Identified groups of young sucker shoots with well-preserved leaves emerging from Notophytum roots.
• Documented the first anatomical evidence of root suckering in any fossil seed plant.
• Observed root suckering in an early conifer, potentially a podocarp.

Conclusions:

• Notophytum krauselii demonstrated the ability to regenerate vegetatively through root suckering during the Triassic.
• This capacity suggests adaptation to environmental stresses and potential for vegetative reproduction in polar Triassic forests.
• The findings support the hypothesis that root suckering may be an ancestral trait in certain conifer families.