Independent origins of endodermis in lycopsid and euphyllophyte roots.

Endodermis evolved independently at least twice in vascular plants, with distinct structures in lycopsids and euphyllophytes, indicating convergent evolution.

• Why it matters: Understanding the origin of the endodermis is crucial for insights into plant vascular tissue evolution and functional adaptations, yet its homology across land plants remains unclear.
• What they did: The study examined lycopsids and fossil records, confirming endodermis presence in some lineages and analyzing gene expression of SHR and SCR homologs across species, totaling multiple lineages and fossil data.
• The result: Findings suggest the endodermis arose independently in different plant groups, with gene functions indicating a shared ancestral role in tissue boundary formation, enabling better understanding of plant vascular evolution.