NWI-BP003B-2024 Evolution and development of plants, 2024-2025
Evolution and development of plants
Lecturer: Janny peters, Daan van den brink
Guest lecture orchid flowers and fruits: Barbara gravendeel (professor ecology, chair plant evolution)
Guest lecture Earth: Caroline Slomp
Reading tip: The emerald planet by David Beerling
Tools: digital modules, manual, versatest (www.science.ru.nl/biologycourses), virtual classroom
(www.vcbio.science.ru.nl/en/)
Disclaimer: all information, pictures and statements are derived from the lecture slides, the Cambell
book (11th and 12th edition) or the online modules provided on Brightspace for this course, unless
otherwise stated.
Table of contents
Evolution from algae to angiosperms ...................................................................................................... 3
L1 lifecycles .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Differences in animals and plants.................................................................................................... 5
Specific features of plant cells ......................................................................................................... 6
Appearance of eukaryotes: endosymbiosis ..................................................................................... 6
General plant life cycle .................................................................................................................... 7
L2 algae ................................................................................................................................................ 8
L03 bryophytes .................................................................................................................................. 11
How did plants colonize land? ....................................................................................................... 11
L4 ferns .............................................................................................................................................. 17
Fern phyla ...................................................................................................................................... 20
Seed plants ........................................................................................................................................ 21
L5 gymnosperms (=naked seeds) .................................................................................................. 21
L6 angiosperms.............................................................................................................................. 29
Orchid flowers ............................................................................................................................... 38
Orchid fruits ................................................................................................................................... 41
Development from seedling to mature plant ........................................................................................ 42
Embryo .............................................................................................................................................. 43
Megaspore to egg cell and microspore to sperm cell ................................................................... 43
Two types of embryos in angiosperms .......................................................................................... 43
Embryogenesis .............................................................................................................................. 44
,NWI-BP003B-2024 Evolution and development of plants, 2024-2025
How does the seedling know which parts need to grow how?..................................................... 45
Eudicot embryogenesis ................................................................................................................. 45
Monocot embryogenesis ............................................................................................................... 47
Overall summary embryogenesis .................................................................................................. 48
Germination?......................................................................................................................................... 49
Layers: what is what ...................................................................................................................... 50
Monocot seed germination ........................................................................................................... 53
Primary growth .................................................................................................................................. 54
Roots .................................................................................................................................................. 57
Primary growth .............................................................................................................................. 57
Secondary growth in roots ............................................................................................................ 68
Stem................................................................................................................................................... 72
Primary growth .............................................................................................................................. 73
Secondary growth in stems ........................................................................................................... 76
Leaf .................................................................................................................................................... 81
Tissue regeneration in plants ................................................................................................................ 90
How land plants changed Earth’s history .............................................................................................. 93
First land plants, further evolution and impact on CO2 and O2 ......................................................... 94
Rise of flowering plants ..................................................................................................................... 96
,NWI-BP003B-2024 Evolution and development of plants, 2024-2025
Evolution from algae to angiosperms
, NWI-BP003B-2024 Evolution and development of plants, 2024-2025
Evolution and development of plants
Lecturer: Janny peters, Daan van den brink
Guest lecture orchid flowers and fruits: Barbara gravendeel (professor ecology, chair plant evolution)
Guest lecture Earth: Caroline Slomp
Reading tip: The emerald planet by David Beerling
Tools: digital modules, manual, versatest (www.science.ru.nl/biologycourses), virtual classroom
(www.vcbio.science.ru.nl/en/)
Disclaimer: all information, pictures and statements are derived from the lecture slides, the Cambell
book (11th and 12th edition) or the online modules provided on Brightspace for this course, unless
otherwise stated.
Table of contents
Evolution from algae to angiosperms ...................................................................................................... 3
L1 lifecycles .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Differences in animals and plants.................................................................................................... 5
Specific features of plant cells ......................................................................................................... 6
Appearance of eukaryotes: endosymbiosis ..................................................................................... 6
General plant life cycle .................................................................................................................... 7
L2 algae ................................................................................................................................................ 8
L03 bryophytes .................................................................................................................................. 11
How did plants colonize land? ....................................................................................................... 11
L4 ferns .............................................................................................................................................. 17
Fern phyla ...................................................................................................................................... 20
Seed plants ........................................................................................................................................ 21
L5 gymnosperms (=naked seeds) .................................................................................................. 21
L6 angiosperms.............................................................................................................................. 29
Orchid flowers ............................................................................................................................... 38
Orchid fruits ................................................................................................................................... 41
Development from seedling to mature plant ........................................................................................ 42
Embryo .............................................................................................................................................. 43
Megaspore to egg cell and microspore to sperm cell ................................................................... 43
Two types of embryos in angiosperms .......................................................................................... 43
Embryogenesis .............................................................................................................................. 44
,NWI-BP003B-2024 Evolution and development of plants, 2024-2025
How does the seedling know which parts need to grow how?..................................................... 45
Eudicot embryogenesis ................................................................................................................. 45
Monocot embryogenesis ............................................................................................................... 47
Overall summary embryogenesis .................................................................................................. 48
Germination?......................................................................................................................................... 49
Layers: what is what ...................................................................................................................... 50
Monocot seed germination ........................................................................................................... 53
Primary growth .................................................................................................................................. 54
Roots .................................................................................................................................................. 57
Primary growth .............................................................................................................................. 57
Secondary growth in roots ............................................................................................................ 68
Stem................................................................................................................................................... 72
Primary growth .............................................................................................................................. 73
Secondary growth in stems ........................................................................................................... 76
Leaf .................................................................................................................................................... 81
Tissue regeneration in plants ................................................................................................................ 90
How land plants changed Earth’s history .............................................................................................. 93
First land plants, further evolution and impact on CO2 and O2 ......................................................... 94
Rise of flowering plants ..................................................................................................................... 96
,NWI-BP003B-2024 Evolution and development of plants, 2024-2025
Evolution from algae to angiosperms
, NWI-BP003B-2024 Evolution and development of plants, 2024-2025
