Search Results (13)

Conventional propagation of the highly sought-after ornamental Philodendron erubescens ‘Pink Princess’ is constrained by slow multiplication rates, the risk of unstable variegation, and the limited availability of elite mother stock, making advanced in vitro techniques essential for large-scale production. This research aimed to establish an efficient micropropagation protocol by optimizing the shoot multiplication phase in a twin-flask Temporary Immersion Bioreactor (TIB) system (RITA-type) and subsequently assessing the genetic fidelity of the regenerated plants. Shoot induction was evaluated in a TIB system with an immersion frequency of 4 min every 8 h. Among the tested cytokinins, liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) provided the optimal conditions for shoot proliferation, accounting for approximately 21 shoots/explant. While the TIB system was highly effective for shoot multiplication, it proved suboptimal for root induction. Therefore, rooting was optimized on a semi-solid medium, where MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was identified as the most effective treatment, yielding an average of 3.0 well-developed roots per explant (1.1 cm in length) within 30 days. For acclimatization, a substrate mix of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite (2:1:1, v/v/v) ensured a 100% survival rate. Critically, genetic fidelity analysis using RAPD markers revealed monomorphic banding patterns between the micropropagated plantlets and the mother plant (100% similarity), confirming their genetic uniformity and true-to-type nature. The established protocol provides a robust and reliable method for the in vitro propagation of P. erubescens ‘Pink Princess’. This work offers a foundation for developing large-scale commercial production strategies and effectively overcomes many limitations of classical propagation techniques. Full article

Philodendron ‘White Knight’ is a popular climbing evergreen plant typically propagated through stem cuttings. However, this method is slow and inefficient, making it challenging to meet the rising market demand. In vitro propagation could enhance the multiplication of this cultivar. However, research on its in vitro propagation is limited. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to establish an efficient micropropagation technique to mass-produce Philodendron ‘White Knight’ to meet the market demand. We investigate the impact of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on the surface sterilization of Philodendron ‘White Knight’ petioles, the role of plant growth regulators in adventitious shoot regeneration and shoot multiplication, and the effect of auxins on the rooting ability of Philodendron ‘White Knight’ microshoots. There are few stages in plant micropropagation. The establishment of aseptic culture is the first and most important stage. For Philodendron ‘White Knight’, aseptic petiole explants (100%) were obtained after treatment with 40 mg L⁻¹ Ag NPs for 60 min. This was followed by adventitious shoot induction, and the highest rate of adventitious shoot induction (52.6%) and the maximum shoot number (13.9 shoots per petiole) were achieved on Murashige and Skoog shoot multiplication B (MS-B) medium with 20 µM of 2-isopentenyl adenine (2-IP) and 5.0 µM of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The shoot multiplication stage was achieved with the highest number of shoots (34 shoots per shoot tip) with a length of 5.1 cm, which was obtained on MS-B medium with 5.0 µM 2-IP and 2.5 µM NAA. All the microshoots produced roots during the root induction stage with the maximum root number (8.2 roots per shoot), and the greatest plantlet height (9.1 cm) was achieved on half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium containing indole-3-butyric acid (10.0 μM). The rooted plantlets of Philodendron ‘White Knight’ were transplanted into a substrate composed of 10% peat moss, 50% orchid stone, and 40% coconut husk chips and acclimatized in a greenhouse environment, achieving a survival rate of 100%. This micropropagation protocol can be used for the commercial production of Philodendron ‘White Knight’. Full article

Antioxidants are essential compounds with diverse applications, and medicinal plants are a natural source of these biomolecules. Philodendron heleniae, a species native to the Ecuadorian Amazon, belongs to a genus renowned for its traditional therapeutic uses. Extracts from the stems and roots of several Philodendron species have been widely used to treat stress, bladder disorders, and snakebite wounds, underscoring their medicinal potential. This study investigates the volatile composition, antioxidant properties, and molecular docking of ethanolic extracts from P. heleniae, aiming to expand its applications. Phytochemical analysis revealed a rich profile of tannins, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Antioxidant assays (ABTS and DPPH) demonstrated the extract’s strong free radical scavenging capacity, comparable to the standard Trolox. GC-MS analysis identified 48 volatile and semi-volatile metabolites, predominantly phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and lipid-like molecules. Fractionation of the crude ethanolic extract into aqueous and ethanolic fractions simplifies the downstream analytical steps and facilitates the identification and the evaluation of the higher abundance of antioxidant-related metabolites. Molecular docking supported these findings, highlighting strong binding affinities of stigmasterol and desmosterol to catalase, an enzyme critical for reducing oxidative stress. These results position P. heleniae as a promising source of natural antioxidants with potential pharmaceutical applications, while emphasizing the importance of conserving Ecuador’s biodiversity and its bioactive resources. Full article

The Philodendron billietiae is a popular ornamental plant, with mutated varieties in high demand and commanding premium prices. This research aims to identify the optimal medium for propagating Philodendron billietiae and to use gamma radiation to induce mutations. Shoot tips of Philodendron billietiae were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA), both alone and in combination with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), to induce shoot formation. Different concentrations of NAA were then tested for root induction. Additionally, mutation induction was investigated using gamma radiation from cesium-137 as the primary radioactive source, with doses of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 Gray. MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg L⁻¹ BA achieved the highest shoot induction, resulting in more shoots and leaves per shoot. The optimal medium for root induction was MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L⁻¹ NAA. In the mutation induction experiment, increasing radiation doses resulted in decreased survival rates, fewer new shoots, and reduced leaf width and length. Gamma radiation at doses between 20 and 40 Gray induced morphological changes in the leaves of Philodendron billietiae. These findings provide valuable guidelines for the genetic improvement of Philodendron billietiae to enhance its commercial value. Full article

Rutin, a flavonoid phytochemical compound, plays a vital role in human health. It is used in treating capillary fragility and has anti-Alzheimer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. In this study, Ti-Mo-Ni-O nanotubes (NTs) were used, for the first time, in an unprecedented plant biotechnology application, wherein in vitro Philodendron shoots (Philodendron erubescens) known as “Imperial Red” were targeted for rutin accumulation. The antioxidant responses and the accumulation of rutin were evaluated in treated Philodendron erubescens (P. erubescens) shoots using 5.0 mg/L of Ti-Mo-Ni-O NTs. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were estimated, and an ABTS⁺ assay, FRAP assay, and iron metal chelation assay were performed. The application of Ti-Mo-Ni-O NTs enhanced the rutin content considerably from 0.02 mg/g to 2.96 mg/g for dry-weight shootlet extracts. Therefore, the use of Ti-Mo-Ni-O NTs is proposed to be a superior alternative to elevate the rutin content. The aim of the current study is to target P. erubescens shoots grown in vitro for the accumulation of rutin compounds using Ti-Mo-Ni-O NT powder, to determine the quantitative and qualitative accumulation of rutin via HPLC–DAD analysis, and to estimate the antioxidant activity of P. erubescens shoot extract. This study presents a novel methodology for utilizing nano-biotechnology in the synthesis of plant secondary metabolites. Full article

Numerous plant functional traits of ecophysiology and morphology associated with an epiphytic life history have promoted relatively high rates of evolutionary diversification and ecological success in tropical families such as the Orchidaeae, Polypodiaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Cactaceae. Epiphytic life histories are relatively uncommon in the Araceae and rare in the Cyclanthaceae which lack key functional traits for epiphytism. Only two lineages of Neotropical Araceae, Anthurium and Philodendron, include examples of epiphyte life histories. The evolution of a hemiepiphytic life history represented an important development for tropical Araceae by providing functional traits that have greatly expanded opportunities for adaptive radiation and ecological success as indicated by species richness and frequency of occurrence. The key adaptive trait allowing the diversification of hemiepiphytic Araceae was the development of heteroblastic growth of leaves and stems. Although hemiepiphytic life histories are present in the Cyclanthaceae, the family has undergone only modest speciation and limited ecological success in both its epiphytes and hemiepiphytes. Extensive sampling of more than 4600 trees from primary forest on four soil groups in northeastern Costa Rica have found a modest diversity of 15 species of epiphytic Araceae but only two species of epiphytic Cyclanthaceae. In contrast, 38 species of hemiepiphytic Araceae and 5 species of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae were sampled, indicating relatively limited adaptive radiation of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae and lower ecological success. Using summed values of frequency of occurrence as a measure of ecological success, epiphytic Araceae were 18 to 42 times more frequent than epiphytic Cyclanthaceae in swamp, alluvial, and residual soil forests. Summed frequencies of occurrence of hemiepiphytic Araceae were 7 to 13 times higher than those of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae. The four soil groups were similar in their floristic composition of epiphytic and hemiepiphytic Araceae and Cyclanthaceae, but the frequencies of occurrence of both epiphytes and hemiepiphytes were, with few exceptions, highest on swamp soil plots, with alluvial soil plots slightly less favorable. Full article

This study describes the in vitro propagation and ex vitro acclimatization of Philodendron erubescens pink princess, one of the most popular ornamental variegated foliage plants. For shoot proliferation, the protocorm-like bodies of the Philodendron pink princess were cultured on solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at different concentrations. The results revealed that supplementation with BAP alone at a concentration of 1.0 mg/L yielded the maximum number of shoots and leaves. Furthermore, the application of BAP at 1.0 mg/L significantly enhanced the shoot proliferation of Philodendron pink princess when grown in liquid MS medium, yielding 11.2 shoots/explant and 4.7 leaves/explant. When the established microshoots were subjected to root induction using solid MS media supplemented with different kinds and concentrations of auxins, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 3 mg/L resulted in the highest number of roots (3.2 roots/explant) and longest root length (1.9 cm). Three supporting materials, i.e., peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite, were used as planting media for the ex vitro acclimatization of the Philodendron pink princess plantlets. The results demonstrated that the in vitro plantlets acclimatized and exhibited a relatively high survival frequency in all planting media without morphological abnormalities. Peat moss outperformed all other types of planting media in terms of sustaining the vegetative growth of the plantlets. In the future, the approach established in this study could be employed for the extensive production of Philodendron pink princess. Full article

Philodendron bipinnatifidum Schott ex Endl. is a popular ornamental plant that is normally propagated by tissue culture methods. However, the growth and acclimatization of micropropagated plants are tarrying processes. Therefore, in the present study we examined the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Gigaspora albida and G. marginata on the success in the establishment, growth, and development of P. bipinnatifidum plantlets during the acclimatization phase. AMF plants had significantly more leaves (10.67 per plant), leaf area (75.63 cm²), plant height (14.17 cm), shoot fresh weight (3.30 g) and shoot dry weight (0.31 g), according to an analysis of growth characteristics. In comparison, non-AMF plants had lower values for these metrics. In addition, AMF plants had significantly longer main roots (23 cm), total length roots per plantlet (485.73 cm), average root diameter (4.58 mm) per plantlet, number of root tips (236) per plant, total root surface area (697.76 cm²), total root volume (79.98 cm³), roots fresh weight (1.51 g), roots dry weight (0.16 g) than non-AMF plants. AMF-treated plants showed better performance in leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content. These results emphasize the need for mycorrhization of micropropagated plants to promote vegetative growth, especially during the acclimatization stage. Full article

Desk Set, a 1957 20th Century Fox studio comedy, made with the sponsorship of IBM, charts the relationship between a reference librarian, Bunny Watson, and Richard Sumner, the inventor of a computer which appears to threaten her job. The film displays a thriving philodendron within Bunny’s skyscraper office, illustrating her organic style of thinking, and implicitly inviting us to see the plant in opposition to the computer. The suggestion that the plant is in some sense excessive, claiming attention beyond the norms of the ornamental background houseplant, opens questions about how we look at plants on film. We find here a reframing of figure and ground, which relates the philodendron to moments where plants become conspicuous in early film and in horror. Desk Set reflects a vegetal landscape characterised by all the commonplace instrumentalising of plants in modernity, amongst which the philodendron emerges as an exception. The plant does not point outwards to a putative wilderness. Instead, our looking at it allows us to contemplate it as an individuated specimen, and to move from that act of looking to recognise its deep entanglement with the urban environment, and with human care. Full article

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan pathogen able to infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans, leading to toxoplasmosis. Current treatments for toxoplasmosis are associated with severe side-effects and a lack efficacy to eradicate chronic infection. Thus, there is an urgent need for developing novel, highly efficient agents against toxoplasmosis with low toxicity. For decades, natural products have been a useful source of novel bioactive compounds for the treatment of infectious pathogens. In the present study, we isolated eight natural products from the crude extract of the endophytic fungus Paraboeremia selaginellae obtained from the leaves of the plant Philodendron monstera. The natural products were tested for inhibiting Toxoplasma gondii proliferation, and their cytotoxicity was evaluated in different human cell lines. Six natural products showed antitoxoplasma activity with low or no cytotoxicity in human cell lines. Together, these findings indicate that biphenyl ethers, bioxanthracenes, and 5S,6S-phomalactone from P. selaginellae are potential candidates for novel anti-toxoplasma drugs. Full article

A pot experiment was conducted during the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons to evaluate the effect of silver nanoparticles (SNPs), iron nanoparticles (FeNPs), zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs), and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nanoparticles (NPK NPs) and humic acid (HA) in improving the growth of Philodendron plants. Our findings indicated that the highest increase in plant height and leaf width was recorded with 60 mg/L SNPs. Additionally, the highest values in the number of leaves/plant were recorded with 60 mg/L SNPs compared to the control. FeNPs at 150 mg/L treatment gave the best result of total chlorophyll and carotenoid content, followed by SNPs at 60 mg/L and then NPK NPs at 2 mL/L in the two seasons. Furthermore, ZnNPs at 200 mg/L, SNPs at 20 mg/L, SNPs at 40 mg/L, and SNPs at 60 mg/L gave the best results of enzyme activity (catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase). However, the treatments with 40 and 60 mg/L SNPs led to improve the anatomical characters of leaves and stem such as thickness of the blade, mesophyll tissue, xylem vessel diameter, vascular bundle dimension, stem diameter, and epidermis cell dimension compared with other treatments and the control. Full article

Poor indoor quality affects people’s health and well-being. Phytoremediation is one way in which this problem can be tackled, with living walls being a viable option for places with limited space. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of five plant species in a living wall to remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and to identify whether the type of pollutant has any influence. An enclosed chamber was used to add the contaminants n-hexane and formaldehyde independently. Total VOCs were measured for three days in two scenarios: (1) empty chamber, and (2) chamber with living wall. Five living walls were prepared, each with three plants of the same species: Spathiphyllum wallisii, Philodendron hederaceum, Ficus pumila, Tradescantia pallida, and Chlorophytum comosum. There was no correlation between leaf area/fresh weight/dry weight and the contaminant reduction. In general, all five species were more efficient in reducing TVOCs when exposed to formaldehyde than to n-hexane. Chlorophytum comosum was the most efficient species in reducing the concentration of TVOCs for both contaminants, Spathiphyllum wallisii being the least efficient by far. Full article