The most prevalent known plant symbiosis is the mutual relationship between the roots of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem that act as a hydraulic system to bring water and nutrients up from the soil to the leaves and food produced in the leaves to the rest of the plants) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Two recent research findings reveal that this symbiotic relationship is much more complex than previously thought. What was known previously was that vascular plants provide sites all along their root systems where colonies of AMF can assemble and feed on the nutrients and food supplied by the plants. In return, the AMF supply phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon in molecular forms that the vascular plants can readily assimilate. It was also known that AMF enhances the uptake of liquid water by the vascular plants.1

AMF nodules, found on the roots of over 80% of all vascular plant species, played a crucial role in facilitating the rapid colonization of the continental landmasses by vascular plants. Without this symbiotic and widespread relationship between AMF and vascular plants, neither soulish animals (birds and mammals) nor human beings would thrive on Earth. Both would lack the necessary supply of food and nutrients. The creation and maintenance of large-bodied soulish animals described in Genesis 1:21 and of humans in Genesis 1:26–27 would be impossible without the symbiotic connection between vascular plants and AMF being established first.

The two new studies were published in the June 16, 2017, issue of Science.  Teams led by Yina Jiang2 and Leonie Luginbuehl3 describe how ecologists previously thought that vascular plants supplied a variety of sugars to the AMF. However, as the two teams independently demonstrated, vascular plants also supply their symbiotic AMF with lipids, “thus providing the fungi with a robust source of carbon for their metabolic needs.”4 Because of this rich supply of carbon in the form of lipids, AMF are able to launch and sustain colonization along the entire root system to the great benefit of the vascular plants.

Like all complex symbiotic relationships manifested in nature, the mutual support that AMF and vascular plants provide for one another poses a profound challenge to evolutionary models for life. AMF cannot thrive without vascular plants, nor can the vascular plants thrive without AMF.

The challenge for evolutionary models is how to explain, by natural means, the simultaneous appearance of both vascular plants and AMF. An even greater challenge is: (1) how to explain the plants evolving structures in their root systems to house AMF, channel lipids and carbohydrate resources (sugars) to feed themselves, and enable them to build complex colonies; and (2) how to explain AMF evolving the means to harvest phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon, transform them into forms suitable for vascular plants, and provide transportation systems to channel these resources into the plants’ root systems. Furthermore, evolutionary models must explain, by natural means, how AMF and vascular plant root systems were placed together so they could form and efficiently sustain their symbiotic relationships.

It seems to me that nothing less than a supernatural, super-intelligent Creator can explain all the intricate designs required in advance of launching and maintaining such complex symbiotic relationships. The complex symbiotic relationships between vascular plants and AMF testify, too, of the Creator’s desire to provide the human race with a rich supply of food and a diverse, stable, and abundant treasure chest of biodeposits.

Featured image: Flax root cortical cells containing paired arbuscules of fungi. 

Endnotes

  1. Gail W. T. Wilson et al., “Soil Aggregation and Carbon Sequestration Are Tightly Correlated with the Abundance of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Results from Long-Term Field Experiments,” Ecology Letters 12 (March 2009): 452–61, doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01303.x.
  2. Yina Jiang et al., “Plants Transfer Lipids to Sustain Colonization by Mutualistic Mycorrhizal and Parasitic Fungi,” Science 356 (June 16, 2017): 1172–75, doi:10.1126/science.aam9970.
  3. Leonie H. Luginbuehl et al., “Fatty Acids in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Are Synthesized by the Host Plant,” Science 356 (June 08, 2017): 1175–78, doi:10.1126/science.aan0081.
  4. Jiang et al., “Plants Transfer Lipids,” 1172.

Subjects: Ecosystems, Plants, Life Design, Symbiosis

Check out more from Dr. Hugh Ross @Reasons.org

About The Author

Dr. Hugh Ross

Reasons to Believe emerged from my passion to research, develop, and proclaim the most powerful new reasons to believe in Christ as Creator, Lord, and Savior and to use those new reasons to reach people for Christ. I also am eager to equip Christians to engage, rather than withdraw from or attack, educated non-Christians. One of the approaches I’ve developed, with the help of my RTB colleagues, is a biblical creation model that is testable, falsifiable, and predictive. I enjoy constructively integrating all 66 books of the Bible with all the science disciplines as a way to discover and apply deeper truths. 1 Peter 3:15–16 sets my ministry goal, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience." Hugh Ross launched his career at age seven when he went to the library to find out why stars are hot. Physics and astronomy captured his curiosity and never let go. At age seventeen he became the youngest person ever to serve as director of observations for Vancouver's Royal Astronomical Society. With the help of a provincial scholarship and a National Research Council (NRC) of Canada fellowship, he completed his undergraduate degree in physics (University of British Columbia) and graduate degrees in astronomy (University of Toronto). The NRC also sent him to the United States for postdoctoral studies. At Caltech he researched quasi-stellar objects, or "quasars," some of the most distant and ancient objects in the universe. Not all of Hugh's discoveries involved astrophysics. Prompted by curiosity, he studied the world’s religions and "holy books" and found only one book that proved scientifically and historically accurate: the Bible. Hugh started at religious "ground zero" and through scientific and historical reality-testing became convinced that the Bible is truly the Word of God! When he went on to describe for others his journey to faith in Jesus Christ, he was surprised to discover how many people believed or disbelieved without checking the evidence. Hugh's unshakable confidence that God's revelations in Scripture and nature do not, will not, and cannot contradict became his unique message. Wholeheartedly encouraged by family and friends, communicating that message as broadly and clearly as possible became his mission. Thus, in 1986, he founded science-faith think tank Reasons to Believe (RTB). He and his colleagues at RTB keep tabs on the frontiers of research to share with scientists and nonscientists alike the thrilling news of what's being discovered and how it connects with biblical theology. In this realm, he has written many books, including: The Fingerprint of God, The Creator and the Cosmos, Beyond the Cosmos, A Matter of Days, Creation as Science, Why the Universe Is the Way It Is, and More Than a Theory. Between writing books and articles, recording podcasts, and taking interviews, Hugh travels the world challenging students and faculty, churches and professional groups, to consider what they believe and why. He presents a persuasive case for Christianity without applying pressure. Because he treats people's questions and comments with respect, he is in great demand as a speaker and as a talk-radio and television guest. Having grown up amid the splendor of Canada's mountains, wildlife, and waterways, Hugh loves the outdoors. Hiking, trail running, and photography are among his favorite recreational pursuits - in addition to stargazing. Hugh lives in Southern California with his wife, Kathy, and two sons.



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