Question

The evolution of vascular tissue led to an explosion in the land plants. Which of the following is an advantage that vascular tissue confers to plants?

a.) It can make some plants less susceptible to herbivory.
b.) It allows gas exchange throughout the plant.
c.) It allows some plants to grow taller than others.
d.) It allows the plants to produce more gametes.

Answer 1

Vascular tissue allows plants to grow taller by enabling the transportation of water, minerals, and sugars throughout the plant, which gives them a competitive advantage over nonvascular plants.

Step-by-step explanation:

The evolution of vascular tissue led to significant advancements in the development of land plants by providing several key advantages. One of the primary benefits of vascular tissue is that it allows some plants to grow taller than others, which is directly related to the option c) provided in the student's question. Due to the presence of xylem and phloem, vascular plants can transport water, minerals, and sugars throughout their structure, enabling them to achieve greater heights and access more sunlight compared to nonvascular plants. This internal transportation system is pivotal for vascular plants to thrive on land, making them the dominant group of land plants on Earth.