Question

Select all of the following traits that enabled plants to adapt on land:

Seeds to protect and nourish and embryo 

Cell walls containing cellulose

Fruit to aid in seed dispersal

Chlorophyll B to aid in photosynthesis

Waxy cuticle to prevent desiccation

Multi cellular structure

Chlorophyll a to aid in photosynthesis

Leaves to assist in photosynthesis

Flowers to assist in fertilization

Ability to store excess carbohydrates as starch

Double fertilization

Vascular tissue to transport water and sugars

Answer 1

The following traits have enabled plants to adapt life on land:

1. Waxy cuticle to prevent desiccation: The plants that developed earlier had a waxy layered cuticle that helped prevent the loss of water. This cuticle helped to seal the water inside the plant and prevent from desiccating.

2. Vascular tissue to transport water and sugars: vascular tissues are special tissues found in lad plants that helps to transport water, sugar, and other nutrients in the plants. Since water and nutrients are found in the ground/soil, it is hard for all parts of the plant to get the water and nutrients. Therefore it has vascular tissues called xylem and phloem that carries water and sugar respectively. These help to transport water and nutrients to all part say if plants.

3. Seeds to protect another’s the embryo: in plant reproduction, embryogenesis occurs after the fertilisation. The embryo that is formed and is a part of the seed and also buds in few cases. This seed or bud helps to protect and nourish the embryo of the plants on lands. In water plants, the embryo is directly released in the water and it is not seen in the seed or bud.

The above options are the primary traits that helped plants to adapt to the land.

Following are the few traits that are common in the land plants but are not necessarily a trait that is adapted to adjust to the land :

1. Fruits to aid in seed dispersal: seeds are present inside the fruit. Fruits use wind, water, or plants for the seed dispersion. Seed dispersal is important so that the plant grows away from the parent plant with less competitive condition.

2. Double fertilisation: this type of fertilisation seen in the higher plants like angiosperms and flowering plants. In this a single female gametophyte is fertilised with two male gametes.

Few traits that are common in both aquatic plants and land plants are:

1. Ability to store excess carbohydrates and starch: Many aquatic plants Like duckweed, water hyacinth, and many others can store excess carbohydrates as starch. Land plants also store starch after the photosynthesis.

2. Chlorophyll a and b to aid in photosynthesis: many aquatic plants like green algae, water lilies, etc carry out photosynthesis. They contain both chlorophyll a and b that helps to trap sunlight and aid in photosynthesis.