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Jesper Harholt1, Øjvind Moestrup2, Peter Ulvskov3

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Land plants evolved from charophycean green algae already living on land. Alternating life cycles aided evolutionary success, not initial terrestrialization.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant evolution
  • Algal biology
  • Evolutionary adaptation

Background:

  • The prevailing hypothesis suggests land plants arose from aquatic charophycean green algae.
  • Adaptation to terrestrial life is often linked to the evolution of alternating life cycles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To reassess the terrestrialization process of early land plants.
  • To challenge the established hypothesis regarding the origin and adaptation of land plants.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cell wall evolution in charophycean green algae.
  • Morphological observations of charophycean green algae.
  • Physiological observations of charophycean green algae.

Main Results:

  • Charophycean green algae ancestors were likely already terrestrial inhabitants.
  • The emergence of land plants was preceded by a period of terrestrial adaptation in their algal ancestors.
  • Alternating life cycles were not the primary driver of terrestrialization but rather enhanced evolutionary success.

Conclusions:

  • The terrestrialization of plants may have begun with algal ancestors already adapted to land.
  • Alternating life cycles played a role in the evolutionary success of early land plants, not their initial adaptation to land.