The force of your nursery's secret half.

 

The advancement of roots changed life on The planet - and understanding them could assist us with developing stronger plants.

Countless plant species across the world have roots that first appeared millions of years ago. Today, scientists still study these ancient structures to better understand how they evolved and how they might be used to grow more resilient plants.

Plants survive by adaptation. The benefits of being resilient include better soil health and more efficient water use, which leads to greater yields. Understanding how plants adapt to their environment, for example with root systems that can go deep and wide, could help to grow more resilient plants in the new world of climate change.

The effects of evolution have even been seen in the development of our roots – the part of plants that anchors them to the ground. In this half, we discover how the conditions that helped us evolve into a more diverse species have allowed us to grow more resilient plants.

Did you know that plants are programmed to switch on their roots to absorb nutrients during times of stress? This is known as compaction and can be a key factor in understanding how a plant handles difficult environmental conditions such as drought, air pollution, or low light.