Nepenthes Ampullaria Research Articles

Effect of BA on Callus Induction, Shoot and Root Development from Callus of Nepenthes ampullaria through In Vitro Culture

Nepenthes ampullaria Jack. or pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant in the Nepenthaceae family. They are in danger of extinction because of the less forest area, volatile weather, and pollution. This study aimed to investigate the influence of BA (6-benzyl adenine) on callus induction of Nepenthes sp. through In vitro culture. The experiment was divided into three parts; (1) Callus induction; shoot of a pitcher plant were cultured on solid MS medium (Murashige & Skoog, 1962) supplemented with BA (6-benzyladenine) at 0, 1, 2, and 4 mg/l for 70 days. The experiment design was completely Randomized Design (CRD) (4 treatments X 10 replicates). It was found that MS medium supplemented with 4 mg/l BA proved to be a suitable medium for callus induction (70%). (2) Shoot induction from callus; callus were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0, 2, and 4 mg/l BA (CRD, 3 treatments X 10 replicates) for 45 days. The highest average number of regenerated shoots (19.7±0.3 shoots) was observed on MS medium without BA. (3) Rooting induction; the young shoots, 1-2 cm in length, were cultured on MS medium containing 0, 1, 3, and 5 mg/l NAA combination with 0 and 3 mg/l IBA for 40 days (CRD, 8 treatments X 10 replicates). The results showed that the MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l NAA and 3 mg/l IBA was suitable for root induction with the average of 7.4±1.6 roots.

Pitcher formation of Nepenthes ampullaria and Nepenthes rafflesiana on modified in vitro media

Nepenthes, known as pitcher plants, is one of the unique ornamental plants that are highly sought after for their unique shape and color of the pitchers, a modification of the leaves. The pitcher was reportedly formed under nutrient-poor conditions at its growth site. This study aims to investigate the effects of modification of the culture media on the formation of in vitro pitchers of Nepenthes ampullaria and N. rafflesiana. The experimental design in this study used a completely randomized design with two factors (the species of Nepenthes and the media). Nepenthes ampullaria and N. rafflesiana plantlets with a stem height of about 1-2 cm were planted in medium containing half strength of Murashige and Skoog (1/2 MS), in medium containing sugar, agar, and distilled water (SAW), in medium containing agar and distilled water (AW) and medium containing sterile distilled water (W). All media were adjusted to a pH of about 5.7. The filter paper was used as a buffer in a liquid medium to support the plantlets. Each treatment was replicate three times, with each replicate containing ten bottles of culture, each containing one plantlet. Research results were observed for 12 weeks after planting and showed that all cultures could grow well in each medium. The highest average number of pitchers was recorded for the N. ampullaria culture planted in AW medium, with 22 pitchers/plant, followed by the culture in W medium, with 20 pitchers/plant. For N. rafflesiana, on the other hand, the highest number of pitchers was found in W medium with 18 pitchers/plant.

DIVERSITY OF NEPHENTHES SPP SPECIES IN THE EDUCATION FOREST OF MUHAMMADIYAH UNIVERSITY OF PALANGKA RAYA

Biodiversity, one of which is the diversity of species of Nepenthes spp, is a natural wealth owned by the Education Forest of the Muhammadiyah University of Palangkaraya, Rakumpit, Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan. The research uses observation techniques and transect techniques as well as literature documentation as a supporting source with this type of exploratory research. The diversity of Nepenthes spp species obtained in the Educational Forest of Muhammadiyah University of Palangkaraya, namely found 6 (six) species with different characteristics of roots, stems and leaves. Nepenthes spp species found included Nepenthes ampullaria jack, Nepenthes rafflesiana jack, Nepenthes reinwardtiana miq, Nepenthes hirsute, Nepenthes garcilis, and Nepenthes tomoriana.

A semi-detritivorous pitcher plant, Nepenthes ampullaria diverges in its regulation of pitcher fluid properties

ABSTRACT Tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes) are carnivorous plants that trap and digest prey using highly modified fluid-filled leaves known as pitchers. Prey are digested by plant-secreted enzymes and pitcher symbionts. Pitchers exert control over abiotic properties of the digestive fluid such as pH levels that can influence its symbionts. Here we examine natural variation in pH and dissolved mineral concentrations in three sympatric Nepenthes species, assessing correlations between fluid properties and pitcher traits. We use addition experiments to investigate differences in protein digestion/absorption rates between species. Fluid pH and dissolved mineral levels both showed distinct patterns corresponding to pitcher developmental stages in N. gracilis and N. rafflesiana, whereas N. ampullaria differs from its congeners in exhibiting far less variation in fluid pH, as well as less clear evidence of protein depletion. This study further elucidates the properties of pitchers as habitats, revealing ways in which the host plant regulates that habitat.

UTILIZATION AND CONSERVATION OF Nepenthes ampullaria Jack IN THE TRADITION OF KENDURI SKO COMMUNITY OF KERINCI, JAMBI

It is common for ethnic Malay in Indonesia and Malaysia to use Nepenthes ampullaria as food containers. However, the use of Nepenthes as part of a cultural tradition has been found only in Kerinci Regency, Jambi. This study explores the local wisdom in utilizing and maintaining the presence of N. ampullaria in Kerinci. Data collection through open-ended and deep interviews through participatory observation methods. Data analysis and presentation are delivered descriptively. Lemang is a compulsory item to be served in traditional ceremonies of kenduri sko. There are two types of lemang in Kerinci, lemang bamboo and lemang kancung beruk. The latter is found only during the kenduri sko tradition in Kecamatan Gunung Raya and Bukit Kerman. Therefore, the existence of lemang kancung beruk in these two sub-districts has become obligatory and has no other comparable substitute. In Gunung Raya and Bukit Kerman, the Kenduri sko is held four times a year. The need for N. ampullaria for kenduri sko in these two sub-districts is enormous. For the event, each household needs at least 500 to 2000 pitchers of N. ampullaria. The people of Kerinci harvest N. ampullaria directly from the wild to fulfill the need. The population of N. ampullaria that still survives in its natural habitat is evidence of the success of the local community in maintaining the existence of N. ampullaria in Kerinci. Method and schedule arrangements can allow the population of N. ampullaria to recover. 
 
 Key words: Nepenthes, Kenduri sko, Lemang kancung beruk

Size doesn’t matter shape does: A morphological study of pitcher plant in distinct forest canopy structures

Light exposure from the sun is the most crucial variable for producing optimal pitcher size and colour variation in Nepenthes. This study aimed to observe the effect of forest canopy structure on morphological character of Nepenthes ampullaria’s pitcher parts (longitudinal, front, and peristome) both on size and shape using Geometric morphometric (GM) approach and its prey diversity. We classified the forest canopy structure into two categories: inside the canopy and open space area (gap). We used Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images to build Canopy Height Model (CHM). Then, ForestGapR R package used to analyse and generated the forest gaps area. The prey specimens and photograph samples comprised from 9 individuals with three lower pitchers in open space area with high light exposure as well as shaded area inside the canopy. Total of 54 images were marked by point and curve to generated a landmark analysis using GeoMorph R package. Based on GM analysis, we observed that the forest canopy structure could affect Nepenthes pitcher shape but not in pitcher size. Our field result revealed Nepenthes ampullaria likely dominated by darker colour with a red spot in the shaded area and bright green colour in the open. However, based on our study the pitcher in shaded area inside the canopy have a larger number of prey species than the open area.

Jack's Appendix: When did it come out?

AbstractWilliam Jack's Appendix. Descriptions of Malayan plants, by William Jack. No. 3 was a paper printed in Bencoolen, Sumatra, that included the original descriptions of Nepenthes ampullaria, N. rafflesiana, Rafflesia titan and Stagmaria verniciflua. The Appendix was not included in the Bencoolen journal Malayan Miscellanies, but it was circulated to eminent botanists, partly with the intention of establishing priority for Jack's new names. We argue that the Appendix was effectively published with distribution dating from May 1821. This takes the date of publication of the two Nepenthes species back by 15 years and makes them the earliest names to be validated for Malesian species in the genus. The Linnaean binomial Gluta renghas is among three names typified here.

SPECIES RICHNESS AND SOIL PROPERTIES IN Nepenthes HABITAT AT BRIS ECOSYSTEM IN SETIU, TERENGGANU

A study was carried out to investigate the species richness of Nepenthes in the BRIS ecosystem at Kampung Rhu Tapai, Setiu, Terengganu, and their relationship with soil parameters. Selective sampling was conducted in two sites (Plot A and B) using a 100 m2 quadrat in each site. Nepenthes were identified to species level, and the number of individuals was counted. Soil samples were taken next to the Nepenthes’ rhizosphere to determine the soil properties. A total of 689 Nepenthes individuals were found within the plots, which comprises three species: Nepenthes ampullaria, N. gracilis and N. rafflesiana. Independent samples t-test was conducted to compare the number of individuals in Plot A and Plot B. The result suggested that the abundance of Nepenthes spp. between these two sites was not significantly different. Regarding the species, Nepenthes gracilis was found in a high abundance in both plots. Nepenthes in these sites thrived in the soil with low pH value, ranging from 3.4 to 3.9. Meanwhile, the percentages of organic matter in the study area were ranging from 12.30% to 72.80%.

Density and Spread Pattern of Carnivore Plant (Nepenthes spp.) In The Area of Sebomban Hill Bonti District, Sanggau

Nepenthes spp. is kind of plant that arranged ecosystem in West Kalimantan, especially in the Sebomban hill area, Sanggau Regency. But, its existence is threatened so that several species are included in the endangered category according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The research aims to determine species, community structure, anddistribution patterns of Nepenthes spp. in the area of Sebomban hill, Bonti District, Sanggau Regency. The research method used purposive samplingand systematic sampling with transect. The results showed that there are 3 types of Nepenthes spp. namely N. ampullaria, N. mirabilis and N, gracilis. The density value of Nepenthes spp. ranged from 10 - 45 individual/ ha. The index of importance value of Nepenthes spp. ranged from 42% - 134%, the highest value being Nepenthes ampullaria in location III, while the lowest value was found in location I, namely N. gracilis. All Nepenthes spp. those found at the research location have a pattern of distribution as clustered.

Protease activity is maintained in Nepenthes ampullaria digestive fluids depleted of endogenous proteins with compositional changes.

Nepenthes ampullaria is a unique carnivorous tropical pitcher plant with the detritivorous capability of sequestering nutrients from leaf litter apart from being insectivorous. The changes in the protein composition and protease activity of its pitcher fluids during the early opening of pitchers (D0 and D3C) were investigated via a proteomics approach and a controlled protein depletion experiment (D3L). A total of 193 proteins were identified. Common proteins such as pathogenesis-related protein, proteases (Nep [EC:3.4.23.12], SCP [EC:3.4.16.-]), peroxidase [EC:1.11.1.7], GDSL esterase/lipase [EC:3.1.1.-], and purple acid phosphatase [EC:3.1.3.2] were found in high abundance in the D0 pitchers and were replenished in D3L samples. This reflects their importance for biological processes upon pitcher opening. Meanwhile, prey-inducible chitinases [EC:3.2.1.14] were found in D0 but not in D3C and D3L samples, which suggests their degradation in the absence of prey. Protease activity assays demonstrated the replenishment of proteases in D3L with similar levels of proteolytic activities to that of D3C samples. This supports a feedback mechanism and signaling in the molecular regulation of endogenous protein secretion, turnover, and activity in Nepenthes pitcher fluids. Furthermore, we also discovered several new enzymes (XTH [EC:2.4.1.207], PAE [EC:3.1.1.98]) with possible functions in cell wall degradation that could contribute to the detritivory habit of N. ampullaria.

Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses of Nepenthes ampullaria and Nepenthes rafflesiana Reveal Parental Molecular Expression in the Pitchers of Their Hybrid, Nepenthes × hookeriana.

Nepenthes is a genus comprising carnivorous tropical pitcher plants that have evolved trapping organs at the tip of their leaves for nutrient acquisition from insect trapping. Recent studies have applied proteomics approaches to identify proteins in the pitcher fluids for better understanding the carnivory mechanism, but protein identification is hindered by limited species-specific transcriptomes for Nepenthes. In this study, the proteomics informed by transcriptomics (PIT) approach was utilized to identify and compare proteins in the pitcher fluids of Nepenthes ampullaria, Nepenthes rafflesiana, and their hybrid Nepenthes × hookeriana through PacBio isoform sequencing (Iso-Seq) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) proteomic profiling. We generated full-length transcriptomes from all three species of 80,791 consensus isoforms with an average length of 1,692 bp as a reference for protein identification. The comparative analysis found that transcripts and proteins identified in the hybrid N. × hookeriana were more resembling N. rafflesiana, both of which are insectivorous compared with omnivorous N. ampullaria that can derive nutrients from leaf litters. Previously reported hydrolytic proteins were detected, including proteases, glucanases, chitinases, phosphatases, nucleases, peroxidases, lipid transfer protein, thaumatin-like protein, pathogenesis-related protein, and disease resistance proteins. Many new proteins with diverse predicted functions were also identified, such as amylase, invertase, catalase, kinases, ligases, synthases, esterases, transferases, transporters, and transcription factors. Despite the discovery of a few unique enzymes in N. ampullaria, we found no strong evidence of adaptive evolution to produce endogenous enzymes for the breakdown of leaf litter. A more complete picture of digestive fluid protein composition in this study provides important insights on the molecular physiology of pitchers and carnivory mechanism of Nepenthes species with distinct dietary habits.

EKSPLORASI TUMBUHAN OBAT DI HUTAN PENELITIAN UNIVERSITAS BORNEO TARAKAN SEBAGAI BAHAN AJAR BERUPA BOOKLET UNTUK SISWA KELAS X SMK KESEHATAN KALTARA TARAKAN

This study aimed to determine the types of medicinal plants in the forest area of the Borneo Tarakan University and produce a product in the form booklet that are suitable for use. The type of this research was Research and Development (R D) which uses the development model of Borg and Gall (1983) and is only carried out up to the fifth stage. The results showed that 15 species were found, Kayu putih (Melaleuca leucadendron L.), Paku picisan (Drymoglossum pilloselloides L.), Karamunting (Melastoma malabathricum L.), Resam (Dicronopteris linearis L.), Pandan (Pandanus Sp.), Paku kawat (Lycopodium cernuum L. ), Congkok (Molineria capitulate L.), Jintan (Plectranthus amboinicus L.), Kantong semar (Nepenthes ampullaria), Anggrek tanah (Bromheadia finlaysoniana L.), Hiring-Hiring (Scleria sumatrensis Retz.), Lengkuas (Alpinia galangal L.), Paku tanduk (Platycerium bifurcatum), Paku sarang burung (Asplenium nidus L.), Paku kasak (Blechnum orientale L.). The result of research development in the form booklet were resulted scores validation from that are 86.6% (very feasible), material experts at 80% (feasible), practitioners at 100% (very feasible) and the percentage of student response tests at 94.5% (very interesting. The concluded of this research is the medicinal booklet with medicinal properties in the Borneo Forest Tarakan Research Forest Area is feasible to be used as teaching material for grade X SMK students.Keywords: Medicinal Plants, Booklet

Transcriptome-wide shift from photosynthesis and energy metabolism upon endogenous fluid protein depletion in young Nepenthes ampullaria pitchers

Carnivorous pitcher plants produce specialised pitcher organs containing secretory glands, which secrete acidic fluids with hydrolytic enzymes for prey digestion and nutrient absorption. The content of pitcher fluids has been the focus of many fluid protein profiling studies. These studies suggest an evolutionary convergence of a conserved group of similar enzymes in diverse families of pitcher plants. A recent study showed that endogenous proteins were replenished in the pitcher fluid, which indicates a feedback mechanism in protein secretion. This poses an interesting question on the physiological effect of plant protein loss. However, there is no study to date that describes the pitcher response to endogenous protein depletion. To address this gap of knowledge, we previously performed a comparative RNA-sequencing experiment of newly opened pitchers (D0) against pitchers after 3 days of opening (D3C) and pitchers with filtered endogenous proteins (>10 kDa) upon pitcher opening (D3L). Nepenthes ampullaria was chosen as a model study species due to their abundance and unique feeding behaviour on leaf litters. The analysis of unigenes with top 1% abundance found protein translation and stress response to be overrepresented in D0, compared to cell wall related, transport, and signalling for D3L. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis identified DEGs with functional enrichment in protein regulation, secondary metabolism, intracellular trafficking, secretion, and vesicular transport. The transcriptomic landscape of the pitcher dramatically shifted towards intracellular transport and defence response at the expense of energy metabolism and photosynthesis upon endogenous protein depletion. This is supported by secretome, transportome, and transcription factor analysis with RT-qPCR validation based on independent samples. This study provides the first glimpse into the molecular responses of pitchers to protein loss with implications to future cost/benefit analysis of carnivorous pitcher plant energetics and resource allocation for adaptation in stochastic environments.

Inventory of Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes sp.) and Its Existence in North Sumatra Indonesia

Nepenthes sp. is a carnivorous plant with unique shape and color shades. This unique plant has a special leaf modification called a pitcher which has the capability in catching insects and small animals. The purpose of this research was to know the types and habitat of Nepenthes sp. that found in six regencies in North Sumatra. The pitcher plants inventoried from South Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli, Humbanghasundutan, Toba Samosir, Dairi and Samosir regency in North Sumatra. The research type and method were conducted by descriptive qualitative and survey method research. The morphology data of Nepenthes sp. used to identify the types of Nepenthes sp. in North Sumatra. Inventory result of Nepenthes sp. from six regency showed that there were five original species in North Sumatra namely Nepenthes tobaica, Nepenthes gracilis, Nepenthes ampullaria, Nepenthes eustachya, Nepenthes rhombicaulis and one natural hybrid species Nepenthes reinwardtiana x spectabilis. Nepenthes tobaica, Nepenthes gracilis had upper and lower pitchers while Nepenthes ampullaria, Nepenthes eustachya, Nepenthes rhombicaulis and Nepenthes reinwardtiana x spectabilis just had an upper or lower pitcher. All species lived in low or high lands and most of them found in peat area, high humidity, and high light intensity.

THE SYSTEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF LEAF EPIDERMAL MICROMORPHOLOGY OF TEN NEPENTHES SPECIES (NEPENTHACEAE) FROM PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

GHAZALLI, M. N., TAMIZI, A. A., ESA, M. I. M., BESI, E. E., NIKONG, D., NORDIN, A. R. M. & ZAINI, A. Z. 2019. The systematic significance of leaf epidermal micromorphology of ten Nepenthes species (Nepenthaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia. Reinwardtia 18(2): 81−96. — The pitcher plants of Malaysia belong to the genus Nepenthes and can be found thriving in swampy areas, along the roadside, on hillslopes and in mountainous terrains depending on species and their ecological preferences. In this study, cuticle micromorphology of ten species of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) collected from Peninsular Malaysia was intensively studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to characterise and investigate diagnostic characters of cuticle micromorphology that can be useful in Nepenthes classification. A total of eleven characters from the inner and outer cuticles were enumerated in details and these characters have a value either for infrageneric classification or for diagnostic identification of the species. Characters observed and analysed were related to the epidermal cells, subsidiary cells, stomatal complex i.e type of waxes on both epidermal surfaces, abaxial and adaxial cuticular ornamentation, stomata characteristics, stomata formation, stomata frequency, cuticular ornamentation on stomata, shape of the stomata, stomata size, trichome existence and type of trichomes. Nepenthes ampullaria is clearly distinguished from the other species by markedly different types of tufted and multicellular trichomes of the epidermal cells on both leaf epidermal surfaces. For N. alba, its cuticular feature showed groovy cuticular pattern on the abaxial and adaxial surface, hence, can serve as a diagnostic cuticular pattern for this species. From these findings, the species delimitation based on cuticular features show a clear resolution, however some species might be individually distinct based on the combination of characters examined.

Antioxidant Activity of Pitcher Extracts from Three Nepenthes Species

Nepenthes, locally known as ‘periuk kera’ in Malaysia, is a fascinating species due to uniqueness in their morphology in having pitcher organ for carnivorous diet. The pitcher plant has been used for cooking traditional delicacies and as traditional remedies to treat illness. Hence, this species might possess beneficial health properties. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant activity of the pitcher extracts from Nepenthes ampullaria, Nepenthes rafflesiana and their hybrid, Nepenthes × hookeriana. The samples were extracted using methanol:chloroform:water (3:1:1) via sonication assisted extraction and the extracts were subjected to three different antioxidant assays, namely 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing power (FRAP) and total phenolic content (TPC). Extract from N. ampullaria exhibited the strongest radical scavenging activity (0.148 ± 0.04 mg/mL) with the highest ferric reducing power (0.009 ± 0.003 mg GA/mg dry weight) among the three species, whereas that of N. rafflesiana possessed the highest phenolic content (0.057 ± 0.017 mg GA/mg dry weight). However, the antioxidant capacities of the pitcher extracts were not significantly different (p>0.05) between the three species and were much lower than the gallic acid as a standard reference.

Diversity and vegetation composition of Nepenthes habitat in Kerangas Forest at Tuing, Bangka

Robiansyah, Hidayati NA, Santi R. 2018. Diversity and vegetation composition of Nepenthes habitat in Kerangas Forest at Tuing, Bangka. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 4:254-260. Bangka Belitung has the largest kerangas forest among other area in Sumatera. Kerangas forests are spreading over several regions, one of those is in Tuing, Mapur, Bangka. Kerangas forests have extreme conditions, yet these conditions lead to unique adaptations in plant. One of adapted plant in this harsh environment is Nepenthes. These potential ornamental plants are categorized as a law-protected species. However, the species is facing a wide range of threats that could lead to the decline of populations, mainly come from overexploitation. Moreover, the kerangas forest, as Nepentheshabitat at Tuing, is classed as vulnerable on IUCN Red-list, is struggling over land conversion. The threats then increase further in Nepenthes existence. Therefore, information about its habitat characteristics is important to support conservation management of Nepenthes.This research aimed to analyze Nepenthes diversity and to analye vegetation composition of its habitat to support Nepenthesconservation, especially in kerangas forests.The research was conducted in two type of kerangas forests, which were Amau and padang. There were 8 of 10m x 10m observation plots,which were determined by purposive sampling. Nepenthes found were counted and identified. Vegetation composition of Nepenthes was analyzed. Results showed that there were four species Nepenthes found in Kerangas forest, which were Nepenthes ampullaria, Nepenthes gracilis, Nepenthes mirabilis and Nepenthes reindwartiana. Nepenthesdiversity in Amau were higher than in padang. Nepenthes habitat consisted of 13 plant species, belong to eight families. Baeckea frutescens and Drosera burmannii were the two most important species of Nepenthes habitat.

Keanekaragaman Jenis Kantong Semar (Nepenthes spp.) di Kawasan Taman Wisata Alam Baning Kabupaten Sintang Kalimantan Barat

Baning Natural Tourism Site located in Sintang district is the habitat of Nepenthes spp. The aim of the study is to determine the spesies and diversity of Nepenthes spp. in Baning Tourism site. The study was conducted in April - May 2017. Nepenthes spp. observation was done in 5 observation locations which was determined randomly based on the homogeneity of Nepenthes in Baning site with the total number of the observation area of 0.096 Ha. The results showed that there are 5 spesies of Nepenthes in Baning namely Nepenthes ampullaria, N. bicalcarata, N. mirabilis, N. gracilis, and N. x cantleyi. The diversity of Nepenthes spesies in Baning observation areas is to low, with the value of H' ranging from 1,075 to 0.616.

Anatomical Characters Used for Defining Five Species of Nepenthes from Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia

Anatomical structures may vary among the species of Nepenthes. Therefore, the anatomical characters apparently could be used for supporting the morphological characters in identifying species. This study aimed to seek a valuable anatomical character for identifying and defining five species of Nepenthes occur in Bangka Belitung Islands. Samples of leaves, pitchers and its lids of Nepenthes gracilis , Nepenthes mirabilis , Nepenthes ampullaria , Nepenthes rafflesiana , and Nepenthes reinwardtiana were collected and prepared for paradermal and transverse section of microscope slides. The results showed that the anatomical characters of the leaves, pitchers and lids from these five species of Nepenthes could be used for differentiating five species Nepenthes observed. The absence of nectary gland at the abaxial of pitcher lids of N. gracilis and N. ampullaria separate them from others species. The leaf epidermis of these two species have different cell wall. The length of lunate cells at the inner surface of upper half pitchers are comparable for identifying the pitchers of N. mirabilis from those of N. reinwardtiana . The presence of crystal at the parenchymal tissue of pitcher differentiate N. rafflesiana from the four others. In this research, the identification key for Nepenthes from Bangka Belitung Islands based on the anatomical character was presented.

Biosorption of copper by endophytic fungi isolated from Nepenthes ampullaria.

Our study highlights that fungal biosorption capacity is highly dependent on the sampling area (roadside vs jungle) with roadside fungal strains showing significantly higher copper (Cu) biosorption capacities using living biomass compared to fungal strains originating from plants collected in virgin jungle (P<0·05). It also highlights that different biosorption mechanisms (alive - metabolic dependent and dead biomass - metabolic independent) result in different amounts of Cu being removed from the solutions. The living biomass possessed a better biosorption capacity than the dead biomass (P<0·05).