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by mjd 139 days ago
If you liked this, you will be delighted to learn about the “Triangle of U”: the common brassicas are not just tetraploid, they are Frankensteinian mashups of earlier diploid species with different numbers of chromosomes!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_of_U
2 comments
mjd 139 days ago
Bonus trivia: unlike nearly all plants, brassicas make do without symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza

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culi 139 days ago
Yeah the family is pretty unique for not relying on mycorrhizal fungi but it does still rely on other fungi like Serendipita indica which is a basidiomycete fungus and acts as a facultative endophyte. Meaning it can live on its own in the soil but it can also develop inside plant roots and play many of the same roles mycorrhizal fungi play.

It's actually at the center of a lot of research attention right now for its potential to act as a booster for vegetables that DON'T make traditional mycorrhizal associations

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mjd 139 days ago
I didn't know about this. Thanks!
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IAmBroom 139 days ago
What the...

That's like hearing some mammal babies don't consume milk!

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culi 139 days ago
Just as fun is the Citrus triangle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrus_taxonomy#/media/File:Ci...

Citrons, Pomelos, and True Manderins are the progenitor wild species that were hybridized to give us everything from clementines to grapefruit to key limes and more

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