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Aerial roots elevate indoor plant health: physiological and morphological responses of three high-humidity adapted Araceae species to indoor humidity levels
  • Amanda Rasmussen,
  • Laura Sheeran
Amanda Rasmussen
University of Nottingham School of Biosciences

Corresponding Author:amanda.rasmussen@nottingham.ac.uk

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Laura Sheeran
University of Nottingham School of Biosciences
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Abstract

Heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a global increase in urban greenspace appreciation. Indoor plants are equally important for improving mental health and air quality but despite evolving in humid (sub)tropical environments with aerial root types, planting systems ignore aerial resource supply. This study directly compared nutrient uptake preferences of aerial and soil-formed roots of three common houseplant species under high and ambient relative humidities. Growth and physiology parameters were measured weekly for Anthurium andreanum, Epipremnum aureum and Philodendron scandens grown in custom made growth chambers. Both aerial and soil-formed roots were then fed mixtures of nitrate, ammonium and glycine, with one source labelled with 15N to determine uptake rates and maximum capacities. Aerial roots were consistently better at nitrogen uptake than soil roots but no species, root type or humidity condition showed a preference for a particular nitrogen source. All three species grew more in high humidity, with aerial roots demonstrating the greatest biomass increase. Higher humidities for indoor niches, together with fertiliser applications to aerial roots will support indoor plant growth, creating lush calming indoor environments for people inhabitants.
22 Dec 2022Submitted to Plant, Cell & Environment
22 Dec 2022Submission Checks Completed
22 Dec 2022Assigned to Editor
22 Dec 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
17 Jan 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
03 Feb 20231st Revision Received
03 Feb 2023Submission Checks Completed
03 Feb 2023Assigned to Editor
05 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
10 Feb 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
10 Feb 20232nd Revision Received
10 Feb 2023Submission Checks Completed
10 Feb 2023Assigned to Editor
11 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Feb 2023Editorial Decision: Accept