Influence of the light environment, cutting size, and existence of roots on the survival and regrowth of an invasive species, <i>Epipremnum aureum</i>

Abstract

Understanding the regrowth condition and pattern for the vine plant Epipremnum aureum is important for effective removal of this invasive species. The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of the light environment, size of the plant body, and existence of roots on the survival and regrowth of a piece of the plant body of E. aureum. We surveyed the survival and regrowth of E. aureum for plant cuttings of different sizes under three light conditions representing the outside, edge, and inside of forests (Experiment 1), and for plant cuttings of different sizes with or without roots inside forests (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, we observed a high mortality outside forests, but confirmed higher survival rate and probability of regrowth at forest edges and inside forests. Even one leaf with a stem and root could regrow under low light intensity, whereas the amount of regrown plant organs or tissue was higher for a larger cutting. In Experiment 2, the number of roots increased more rapidly for plant cuttings without initial roots than for those with initial roots, although the amount of regrown plant tissue increased with increasing cutting size. Even small pieces of the plant body of E. aureum with no roots frequently survived and regrew under low light intensity. This indicates that small pieces of the plant body should not be left at forest edges or inside forests during removal work.