Green leaves and photosynthesis were once considered essential characteristics of plants. However, some plants have stopped photosynthesizing and instead obtained the nutrients they need from other organisms.One Such Heterotrophic Plant Looks Ghostly Aspergillus Widespread in East and Southeast Asia. It usually grows in woodlands with little sunlight, and gets the nutrients it needs by sucking the hyphae of fungi. Despite its wide distribution, it was previously thought that only one species of this plant existed in the world. However, Professor Kenji Sueji and colleagues have discovered that a variety discovered in Japan is actually a new species, shaking up our understanding of this unusual-looking plant genus.
It has rose-pink petals and stems that resemble milk glass, giving it a beautiful, otherworldly appearance.The new species has been named since it was first discovered near Kirishima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan Atomized Single Grain Yeast.
Initially, this new species was tentatively identified as M. Modesty, as. .and be known M. Humility F. roses. So began an extensive and multifaceted 20-year study to determine just how different these plants are. Specimens were collected from Japan and Taiwan, as well as Vietnam.
Results from various analyzes revealed morphological differences, including the following; M. kirishimense Flowers and ovaries are rounder than those M. Modesty, And its root ball is more easily shaded by the surrounding soil (with M. modestyprominent root tips). M. matte surface Individuals are shorter (under 5 cm) above ground and longer (over 10 cm) underground. The flowering period is also different; M. Humility The flowering time is about 40 days earlier than before M. kirishimense. Since the two plants share the same primary pollinator (the bumblebee bumblebee), this difference in flowering time reduces the deposition of heterogeneous pollen and helps ensure conspecific mating, thus preventing them from producing hybrids.
There are several other possible reasons M. kirishimense with M. Humility May have evolved into a different species. One possibility is that they have become specialized to feed on different fungi, which leads to reproductive isolation, or the inability to co-produce offspring. This process, known as resource partitioning, is one of the main ways species evolve from a common ancestor.Genetic analysis of the fungus shows that M. kirishimense have consistent, specialized associations with specific fungal lineages, whereas M. Humility Associated with different lineages. Therefore, this study showed that M. matte surface May rely on specific types of fungi to evolve into new species.In fact, the phylogenetic tree (the “family tree” of a group of organisms’ evolutionary history) of the plant itself shows that the genetic characteristics of the plant M. kirishimense with M. Humility can be divided into two clades.Based on the researchers’ analysis of various characteristics, it was found that M. matte surface different from M. Humility In terms of its appearance, flowering pattern, evolutionary history and ecological relationship. Therefore, the researchers concluded that it should be considered a separate species.
Overall, the research team not only revealed M. kirishimense is a unique species, but also deepens the understanding of the Monotropastrum genus. Heterotrophic plants are very vulnerable to extinction because they depend on specific ecosystems to survive, often found in old-growth forests. A newly identified species, M. matte surface, rare and possibly endangered. Now that it has been identified as a new species, conservation measures can be taken to protect it. The study highlights the importance of combining various analytical approaches, called an integrated taxonomy, to fully understand and conserve biodiversity. This work was carried out by a multi-institutional research team including Prof. Suetsugu (Graduate School of Science, Kobe University), Prof. SUYAMA Yoshihisa (Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tohoku University), and Dr. Tian-Chuan Hsu (Taiwan Forestry Research Institute).The paper was published online at Journal of Plant Research November 30, 2022.
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