Researchers have discovered the largest known plant on Earth – a seagrass off the coast of Australia. Using genetic testing, scientists have determined a large underwater meadow in Western Australia is in fact one plant.
Key Highlights
- It is believed to have spread from a single seed over at least 4,500 years. The seagrass covers about 200 sq km (77 sq miles).
- The team stumbled upon the discovery by accident at Shark Bay, about 800km (497 miles) north of Perth.
- They had set out to understand the genetic diversity of the species – also known as ribbon weed (called Posidonia australis) – which is commonly found along parts of Australia’s coast.
- The result was astonishing: it was all one plant. One single plant has expanded over a stretch of 180 km (110 miles) making it the largest known plant on Earth.
- The plant is also remarkable for its hardiness, having grown in locations across the bay with wildly variable conditions.
- What makes this seagrass plant unique from others, other than its enormous size, is that it has twice as many chromosomes as its relatives.
- This makes it what scientists call a “polyploid”. The research has been published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
What is polyploid?
- Polyploid organisms are eukaryotes that have more than two complete sets of chromosomes.
- There are many polyploid plant species, such as potatoes, canola, and bananas.
- In nature they often reside in places with extreme environmental conditions. Polyploids are often sterile, but can continue to grow indefinitely if left undisturbed. This seagrass has done just that.
What are Seagrasses?
- Seagrasses are marine plants which produce flowers, fruit, and seedlings annually, like their land-based relatives. As per NOAA, seagrass are the only true plant that can live completely submerged under water.
- These underwater seagrass meadows grow in two ways: by sexual reproduction, which helps them generate new gene combinations and genetic diversity, and also by extending their rhizomes, the underground stems from which roots and shoots emerge.
- They are often confused with seaweeds, but are actually more closely related to the flowering plants that you see on land. Seagrasses have roots, stems and leaves, and produce flowers and seeds.
- They evolved around 100 million years ago, and today there are approximately 72 different seagrass species that belong to four major groups.
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