Phytoremediation of Formaldehyde in Indoor Environment With Common House Plants and Pseudomonas Chlororaphis

Low light survivor house plants were assessed for their formaldehyde removal capacity from indoor environment. Low ventilation leading to poor air circulation in indoor environment has become a matter of grave concern as it leads to health issues. Phytoremediation technology is being studied in such situations. The capacity of plants in absorbing indoor pollutants can be enhanced through use of bacteria helping phytoremediation process. The gaseous formaldehyde of about 5 ppm was released into the static chamber of volume 1 m3 . Selected test plants were Aglaonema commutatum, Chlorophytum comosum, Sansevieria trifasciata and Epipremnum aureum. Medium in which plants were growing was inoculated with Pseudomonas chlororaphis, which helps the process of phytoremediation. Activated charcoal was also added in the medium, to increase the absorptive surface. The exposure given was for 24 hours. Experiment was replicated for three times. Air quality in the chamber was monitored on advanced Formaldehyde meter, at the start of the experiment and after 24 hours. Leaves of the plants were analysed by DNPH on LCMS method for quantification of Formaldehyde. Quantification of Formaldehyde from leaves ranged between 0.03–4.7 ppm. Formaldehyde meter showed reduction in formaldehyde quantity ranges from 1.999 to 0 ppm in 24 hours. This clearly indicates that selected plants have enhanced limited capacity of formaldehyde absorption in synergy with Pseudomonas chlororaphis.

Particulate Matter (PM) Adsorption and Leaf Characteristics of Ornamental Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Cultivars and Two Common Indoor Plants (Hedera helix L. and Epipremnum aureum Lindl. & Andre)

Particulate matter (PM) is a serious threat to human health, climate, and ecosystems. Furthermore, owing to the combined influence of indoor and outdoor particles, indoor PM can pose a greater threat than urban PM. Plants can help to reduce PM pollution by acting as biofilters. Plants with different leaf characteristics have varying capacities to capture PM. However, the PM mitigation effects of plants and their primary factors are unclear. In this study, we investigated the PM adsorption and leaf characteristics of five ornamental sweet potato (Ipomea batatas L.) cultivars and two common indoor plants (Hedera helix L. and Epipremnum aureum Lindl. & Andre) exposed to approximately 300 μg m−3 of fly ash particles to assess the factors influencing PM adsorption on leaves and to understand the effects of PM pollution on the leaf characteristics of plants. We analyzed the correlation between PM adsorption and photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (Tr), leaf area (LA), leaf width/length ratio (W/L), stomatal density (SD), and stomatal pore size (SP). A Pearson’s correlation analysis and a principal component analysis (PCA) were used to evaluate the effects of different leaf characteristics on PM adsorption. The analysis indicated that leaf gas exchange factors, such as Pn and Tr, and morphological factors, such as W/L and LA, were the primary parameters influencing PM adsorption in all cultivars and species tested. Pn, Tr, and W/L showed a positive correlation with PM accumulation, whereas LA was negatively correlated.

Remediation of Kalyani River water using plant-bacterial cell synergism

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the potential of plant-immobilized bacterial cells synergism for enhanced remediation of polluted river water. The polluted river water sample was collected from Kalyani river, Uttarakhand, India and characterized by high concentration of COD (1010 mg/l), BOD (230 mg/l), NO3−-N (30 mg/l), PO43−-P (48.9 mg/l), and Pb(1.028 mg/l). This water sample was treated on a lab scale with immobilized bacterial cells and Epipremnum aureum in various treatment setups. The treatment system 3 using a combination of immobilized bacterial cells and Epipremnum aureum had the highest pollutant removal efficiency of all the treatment setups tested. At 96 hours, the total COD, BOD, NO3−-N, PO43−-P and Pb contents of polluted river water sample were reduced to 60 mg/l, 20 mg/l, 2.4 mg/l, 11.7 mg/l, and 0.065 mg/l, respectively. Based on the findings, it is possible to conclude that utilizing plant-immobilized bacterial cell synergism is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for enhanced remediation and rejuvenation of polluted river water. Furthermore, a field-scale application of plant-immobilized bacterial cell synergism via floating wetland construction for on-site treatment of contaminated water on the Kalyani river is recommended.

Identifikasi Pemeliharaan Vertical Garden di Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali

Maintenance Identification on Vertical Garden at Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali. Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali has a vertical garden with an area of 10 m x 4 m. The Hotel is able to maintain the plant condition. The purpose of this research is to identify the vertical garden maintenance system at the Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali. The research method uses survey and literature study methods. Data collection techniques are observation, interview, and literature study. Data analysis methods with descriptive methods and scoring tables. The results about the identification of vertical garden maintenance systems consist of watering, water disposal system, trimming, fertilizing, replanting plants, media replacement, sanitation, pest and disease control. Watering in 2 hours creating high humidity in the media. The volume of water released is not fully experienced evapotranspiration. The planting media do not experience drought during the day, so the plants keep fresh. In the calculation of plant suitability values, the corresponding values are Hemigraphis alternata. Plants with adequate value are Epipremnum aureum, Asparagus densiflorus, Ananas bracteatus tricolor, Schefflera Arboricola, and Portulaca grandiflora. In the maintenance process requires a fertigation system to facilitate fertilization. The use of automated systems such as timmers will simplify the maintenance and a more scheduled.

Epipremnum aureum (Araceae) roots associated simultaneously with Glomeromycotina, Mucoromycotina and Ascomycota fungi

Only a small number of aroids are examined for their symbiosis with glomeromycotean arbuscular mycorrhizal (GAM) fungi and the ascomycetous dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi. Therefore we examined the aerial and terrestrial adventitious roots of Epipremnum aureum for the endophytic association and the soils for GAM spores. The aerial roots of E. aureum were free from fungal structures, whereas the terrestrial roots were colonized by GAM, fine root endophyte (FRE), and DSE fungi. The major portion of the terrestrial roots was colonized by FRE fungi followed by GAM and DSE fungi. The colonization pattern was a complex of Arum-Paris and intermediate types. Spores of Acaulospora, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, Rhizophagus and Sclerocystis were isolated from the root zone soils. The results show that E. aureum can establish symbiosis with a wide range of endophytic fungi and FRE symbiosis is reported for the first time in aroids.

Anti-Tumor and Anti-Oxidant Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Epipremnum Aureum Linn. Leaves against DAL Induced Tumor in Swiss Albino Mice

Neoplasia literally means the process of “new growth,” and a new growth is called a neoplasm. The term tumor was originally applied to the swelling caused by inflammation. Neoplasms also may induce swellings, but by long precedent, the non-euplastic usage of tumor has passed into limbo; thus, the term is now equated with neoplasm. Oncology (Greek oncos = tumor) is the study of tumors or neoplasm’s. Cancer is the common term for all malignant tumors. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-tumor activity of ethanolic leaves extract of Epipremnum aureum Linn. and evaluated by in-vitro and in-vivo experimental models. To achieve objectives, EEEA was subjected to phytochemical screening and tested for oral toxicity test. The in-vitro study was carried out by means of MTT assay and Trypan blue dye exclusion assay using DAL cell lines. The in-vivo anti-tumor activity was evaluated against DAL tumour bearing mice by liquid tumour models. Preliminary phytochemical screening was confirmed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, phenolic, steroids, and triterpeniods etc. EEEA showed good cytotoxic effect on DAL cell line in MTT assay and Trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Oral administration of EEEA in tumour bearing mice for 14 days, showed significant reduction in the percent increase in body weight, tumour volume, tumour weight, viable cell count when compared to the untreated mice of the DAL control group. The restoration of the haematological parameters towards the normal control was also observed. The results suggested that the EEEA exhibits significant anti-tumor activity towards both methods. The DAL-bearing mice orally administered leaves of Epipremnum aureum Linn., at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight showed significant change in the average life span compared to animals of the tumor control group. The percentage increase in body weight, tumor cell volume, and number of viable tumor cells were found to be significantly less than the tumor control animals, indicating the anti-tumor nature of the extract.