Re: Aroid leaf regeneration??

---

Steve,

I hope (and expect) others to quickly chime in on this thread, but I have 
often propagated various Amorphophallus from leaf cuttings, as have a 
number of others. Kathy Upton and I had some discussion about this many 
years ago, I think on Aroid-L, but I've not checked the archives. Even 
with my fairly negligent approach, I had pretty good results, and Kathy 
- whose technique is much better - was even able to root A. titanum 
reliably.

This is not from an entire leaf, of course, only a segment of a leaf, but 
there was no "stem" involved (as in how we typically propagate 
Philodendron or the other vining genera), and I assume that's what you 
mean. As with Gonatopus, if the segment roots, a small tuber will form at 
the base of the leaf segment.

I have not tried rooting leaves or leaf segments of other aroid genera, 
but wouldn't really be surprised to succeed with some. We should probably 
run some tests.

The remarkable thing about Gonatopus boivinii, to me, is not just that a 
single leaflet will produce a new plant, but that almost every one roots 
without any special care, in almost any kind of environment from 
semi-aquatic to fairly arid, and that they can apparently defy gravity, 
because I find them in the strangest places. 

Steve


On Wed, 16 Jun 2010, ExoticRainforest wrote:

  

I am again doing some digging as a result of an ongoing discussion with a
group of growers.  It is the opinion of some that aroids can be induced
to generate a totally new plant by placing growth hormone on the petiole
of a leaf.  I have read all I can find and do not believe this
information to be accurate.

 From the text of The Genera of Araceae it appears the only two aroids
that are capable of the regeneration of a new plant from a leaf are
Zamioculcas zamiifolia and Gonotapus boivinii.  This unique ability is
    

... 
  

One gentleman appears to be insisting any of the other four Gonotapus
species is capable of the same thing.  I have read and reread the section
in TGOA on this subject and there is a mention of a few other aroids that
produce bulblets at the juncture of the leaf and petiole but other
Gonotapus are not mentioned. More from TGOA:
    

...
  

Do any of the other four species of Gonotapus actually do leaf
regeneration?  And if not, can any of our scientists give me a source of
documentation as to  why leaf regeneration does not happen in aroids?  If
any grower has obsserved this behavior, can you document it?
    

-- Steve Marak
-- samarak@gizmoworks.com

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