Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pu Guo, Zubin Wang, Xiao Han, Liping Heng
Summary: Solid-liquid composite interfaces inspired by the Nepenthes pitcher plant have gained attention for their unique functions like self-healing and liquid/ice-repellency. Polymers, due to their diversity, easy design, and processing, have been extensively studied for developing polymer-based solid-liquid composite interfaces. Recent progress has focused on isotropic/anisotropic polymer solid-liquid composite interfaces, showcasing potential applications and responsiveness under external stimuli.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY FRONTIERS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Victor Kang, Hauke Isermann, Saksham Sharma, D. Ian Wilson, Walter Federle
Summary: The study reveals the efficient prey retention mechanism in Nepenthes pitcher plants, including the reduced surface tension of the fluid leading to easier sinking of insects, and the fluid's resistance to dewetting making it harder for insects to escape, thus facilitating re-wetting.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
David Labonte, Adam Robinson, Ulrike Bauer, Walter Federle
Summary: Nepenthes pitcher plants capture prey using leaves specialized as pitfall traps, with the hierarchical ridge structure on the pitcher rim enhancing the trap's efficacy by creating continuous slippery tracks. The macroscopic ridges restrict lateral water spreading while enhancing radial spreading, while the microscopic ridges ensure stability of the water film between insect pad and peristome, causing insects to aquaplane. This hierarchy structure avoids the need for a strongly hydrophilic surface chemistry, maintaining resistance to desiccation and preventing contamination.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Biology
Anne-Kristin Lenz, Ulrike Bauer
Summary: Carnivorous pitcher plants, such as Nepenthes gracilis, use raindrop impact energy to trigger a fast pivoting motion of the pitcher lid, capturing insects. Our study revealed distinct deformation patterns in the lid-trapping N. gracilis and pitfall-trapping N. rafflesiana, suggesting an anisotropic impact response that maximizes prey capture forces and dampens oscillation. The results highlight the importance of pitcher geometry in the effective trapping mechanism of N. gracilis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mathias Scharmann, Andreas Wistuba, Alex Widmer
Summary: The evolutionary history of Nepenthes, a genus of around 160 species of carnivorous plants mainly found in tropical Asia, is around 5 million years old. The study confirms previous bifurcating phylogenies and reveals the importance of introgression and hybridization in plant evolution. Organellar capture, admixture graphs, and phylogenetic network analyses provide evidence of introgression events within and between different clades of the main radiation of Nepenthes.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jie Chen, Zhaohui Tan, Miao Yu, Lingfeng Zhao, Keke Shen, Lingli Ni, Suqing Shi
Summary: An azidophenyl-containing fluorinated polymer and fluoroalkylsilane are used to create a durable water-repellent coating on fabric, mimicking the Nepenthes pitcher plant. The coating shows good durability and self-healing capacity. By adjusting the polymer ratio and structure, the water-repellent durability of the coating can be improved.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Raymond J. Ritchie, Suhailar Sma-Air, Chaturong Kongkawn, Jinda Sawattawee
Summary: Pitcher plants, which are insectivorous plants, have modified leaves that act as traps for insects. They have low photosynthetic activity and are often found in nutrient-poor environments. The chlorophyll content in the pitchers is very low, resulting in reduced photosynthetic electron transport. The pitchers have low optimum irradiances and a higher ETRmax on a chlorophyll basis, indicating their adaptation to low light conditions.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Angga Yudaputra, Inggit Puji Astuti, Tri Handayani, Hartutiningsih Siregar, Iyan Robiansyah, Sri Wahyuni, Arief Noor Rachmadiyanto, Danang Wahyu Purnomo, Vandra Kurniawan, Yupi Isnaini, Frisca Damayanti, Rizmoon Nurul Zulkarnaen, Joko Ridho Witono, Izu Andry Fijridiyanto, Arief Hidayat, Mustaid Siregar, Esti Munawaroh, Fitriany Amalia P. Wardhani, Puguh Dwi Raharjo, Ana Widiana, Wendell Cropper Jr
Summary: It has been 23 years since the conservation status of highland tropical pitcher plant Nepenthes talangensis was assessed in 2000. Existing threats may increase the risk of extinction for the species, and a better understanding of its ecology and conservation needs is necessary. Information on population distributions, ecological requirements, priority conservation areas, climate impact, and population structure is crucial for assessing extinction risks and securing the species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Franziska Saul, Mathias Scharmann, Takanori Wakatake, Sitaram Rajaraman, Andre Marques, Matthias Freund, Gerhard Bringmann, Louisa Channon, Dirk Becker, Emily Carroll, Yee Wen Low, Charlotte Lindqvist, Kadeem J. Gilbert, Tanya Renner, Sachiko Masuda, Michaela Richter, Gerd Vogg, Ken Shirasu, Todd P. Michael, Rainer Hedrich, Victor A. Albert, Kenji Fukushima
Summary: Subgenome dominance plays an important role in evolutionary novelty. A study on the Asian pitcher plant Nepenthes gracilis revealed a decaploid karyotype and subgenome dominance. The recessive subgenome on the putative sex chromosome contains transcription factors involved in flower and pollen development, indicating neofunctionalization. The paleopolyploidization events led to the formation of gene clusters with specific expression in the digestive zone of the pitcher. Subgenome dominance facilitates evolutionary innovation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Kadeem J. Gilbert, Thibaut Goldsborough, Weng Ngai Lam, Felicia Leong, Naomi E. Pierce
Summary: This study investigates the natural variation in pH and dissolved mineral concentrations in tropical pitcher plants, and reveals correlations between fluid properties and pitcher traits. N. gracilis and N. rafflesiana show distinct patterns in fluid pH and dissolved mineral levels, while N. ampullaria exhibits less variation in fluid pH.
JOURNAL OF PLANT INTERACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ondrej Kocab, Michaela Bacovcinova, Boris Bokor, Marek Sebela, Rene Lenobel, Caroline R. Schoner, Michael G. Schoner, Andrej Pavlovic
Summary: The Nepenthes hemsleyana, which feeds on faeces, requires less digestive enzymes compared to its close relative Nepenthes rafflesiana that relies on insects, but both species show upregulation of enzyme activity in response to faeces and insect feeding. Contrary to expectations, the final nepenthesin proteolytic activity in the digestive fluid is higher in response to faeces addition than to insect prey, indicating that faeces can mimic arthropod prey triggering the production of digestive enzymes and N. hemsleyana retained capacity for production of them.
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Aswani Ravi, Mary Theresa, Vipina Vinod Thazhe Nandayipurath, Sukanya Rajan, Nejumal Kannankeril Khalid, Aravindakumar Charuvilaputhenveedu Thankappanpillai, Radhakrishnan Edayileveettil Krishnankutty
Summary: Pitchers of carnivorous plants are unique structures used for trapping insects and other small invertebrates, assisted by bacterial communities that have beneficial functions for plants. The bacterial isolate NhPBG1 from Nepenthes hamblack pitcher shows inhibitory activity against various phytopathogens and positive plant beneficial traits. Pre-treatment with NhPBG1 protects Zingiber officinale rhizome from pathogenic infection, with metabolite profiling revealing antifungal compounds pyocyanin and 1-hydroxyphenazine.
PROBIOTICS AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROTEINS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
En-Shyh Lin, Cheng-Yang Huang
Summary: The leaf extract of Nepenthes miranda showed potential cytotoxic and enzyme inhibitory effects, indicating its pharmacological potential for medical applications.
Article
Plant Sciences
Andrej Pavlovic, Ondrej Kocab
Summary: The pitcher traps of Nepenthes species contain a high amount of AOX enzyme and a low amount of COX II enzyme, but have lower abundance of photosynthesis-related proteins. This finding reveals the important role of AOX in the traps.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Binbin Zhang, Weichen Xu, Qingjun Zhu, Fang Guan, Yimeng Zhang
Summary: The study presents the fabrication and analysis of a lubricant-infused slippery surface (LISS) inspired by Nepenthes pitcher. The LISS exhibits outstanding long-lasting anti-corrosion properties, hot water repellency, and scratching resistance, making it a promising biomimetic material for various applications.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2022)
