After years of breeding and evaluation at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC), two new pothos cultivars, Snowy Stream and Green Isle, have been patented for their distinctive foliage characteristics in one of the world’s most popular houseplants. Developed by researchers Jianjun Chen, professor of horticultural sciences, and Richard Henny, MREC emeritus professor, [&#8230;]

After years of breeding and evaluation at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC), two new pothos cultivars, Snowy Stream and Green Isle, have been patented for their distinctive foliage characteristics in one of the world’s most popular houseplants. Developed by researchers <a href="https://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty/chen/">Jianjun Chen</a>, professor of horticultural sciences, and Richard Henny, MREC emeritus professor, the releases reflect ongoing efforts to introduce new, commercially viable foliage houseplants.
Thanks to support from the <a href="https://www.nationalhorticulturefoundation.org/">National Horticulture Foundation</a>, the program has released several patented pothos cultivars in recent years, including <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/mrec/2025/06/11/uf-ifas-researcher-recognized-for-patented-pothos-varieties/">Ivory Knight, Neon Queen and Marble Prince.</a> Green Isle and Snowy Stream represent the latest outcomes of this research.
Both cultivars originate from the parent pothos cultivar Marble Queen but differ notably in appearance. Snowy Stream features four distinct colorations of bright white, greenish white, gray-green and green arranged in irregular patches. Its acuminate leaves are long, slender, slightly concave and gently curved inward. Green Isle is characterized by its dark green foliage and sickle-shaped leaves.
<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-5067 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Variegated green and cream leafy plants against a striped background." width="169" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/mrec/files/2026/05/Marble-Queen-grown-on-pole-2-169x300.jpg"> <img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-5063 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Hanging plant with green and white variegated leaves." width="228" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/mrec/files/2026/05/Snowy-Stream-2-228x300.jpg"> <img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-5065 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="A lush green plant with shiny, heart-shaped leaves in a green pot against a black background." width="300" height="211" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/mrec/files/2026/05/Green-Isle-2-300x211.jpg">
From left to right: Marble Queen, Snowy Stream and Green Isle. UF/IFAS Photos by Richard Henny and Jianjun Chen.
Unlike many crops, pothos does not flower naturally. Henny and Chen induced flowering in Marble Queen by spraying a gibberellic acid solution, a plant hormone known to promote flowering. Through self-pollination, they selected Snowy Stream. Green Isle was later isolated from tissue-cultured plants derived from Snowy Stream.
Although induced flowering and pollination were used in developing Snowy Stream, pothos is predominantly propagated by cuttings. Long-term cutting propagation can lead to genetic changes, called somatic mutations, as plants are repeatedly propagated. Using in vitro breeding, a laboratory-based breeding technique that enables the selection and propagation of plants through tissue culture, breeders like Chen and Henny can identify plants with different morphological traits, or appearances. Some of these plants may eventually be developed into entirely new varieties.
“Our goal is to introduce cultivars that offer something noteworthy while still being practical to produce and easy to care for,” Chen says.
With the patents in place, Chen and his team will continue to evaluate Snowy Stream as a source of future cultivars through in vitro breeding. They hope to add additional variants with unique and valuable market traits.
While pothos is one of the most popular foliage plants worldwide, it is classified in Florida as a Category II invasive species, meaning it has increased in abundance but has not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent seen in Category I species. For this reason, pothos should be kept as indoor foliage and not planted outdoors or used as groundcovers in Florida landscapes.
Preventing the spread of invasive plants is critical to protecting Florida’s native ecosystem. Invasive species can displace native species, reduce biodiversity, and alter natural habitats. To learn more about invasive species in Florida or to report sightings, visit <a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/natural-resources/invasive-species/">UF/IFAS Extension&#8217;s informational webpage</a>.

After years of breeding and evaluation at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC), two new pothos cultivars, Snowy Stream and Green Isle, have been patented for their distinctive foliage characteristics in one of the world’s most popular houseplants. Developed by researchers Jianjun Chen, professor of horticultural sciences, and Richard Henny, MREC emeritus professor, the releases reflect ongoing efforts to introduce new, commercially viable foliage houseplants.
Thanks to support from the National Horticulture Foundation, the program has released several patented pothos cultivars in recent years, including Ivory Knight, Neon Queen and Marble Prince. Green Isle and Snowy Stream represent the latest outcomes of this research.
Both cultivars originate from the parent pothos cultivar Marble Queen but differ notably in appearance. Snowy Stream features four distinct colorations of bright white, greenish white, gray-green and green arranged in irregular patches. Its acuminate leaves are long, slender, slightly concave and gently curved inward. Green Isle is characterized by its dark green foliage and sickle-shaped leaves.
  
From left to right: Marble Queen, Snowy Stream and Green Isle. UF/IFAS Photos by Richard Henny and Jianjun Chen.
Unlike many crops, pothos does not flower naturally. Henny and Chen induced flowering in Marble Queen by spraying a gibberellic acid solution, a plant hormone known to promote flowering. Through self-pollination, they selected Snowy Stream. Green Isle was later isolated from tissue-cultured plants derived from Snowy Stream.
Although induced flowering and pollination were used in developing Snowy Stream, pothos is predominantly propagated by cuttings. Long-term cutting propagation can lead to genetic changes, called somatic mutations, as plants are repeatedly propagated. Using in vitro breeding, a laboratory-based breeding technique that enables the selection and propagation of plants through tissue culture, breeders like Chen and Henny can identify plants with different morphological traits, or appearances. Some of these plants may eventually be developed into entirely new varieties.
“Our goal is to introduce cultivars that offer something noteworthy while still being practical to produce and easy to care for,” Chen says.
With the patents in place, Chen and his team will continue to evaluate Snowy Stream as a source of future cultivars through in vitro breeding. They hope to add additional variants with unique and valuable market traits.
While pothos is one of the most popular foliage plants worldwide, it is classified in Florida as a Category II invasive species, meaning it has increased in abundance but has not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent seen in Category I species. For this reason, pothos should be kept as indoor foliage and not planted outdoors or used as groundcovers in Florida landscapes.
Preventing the spread of invasive plants is critical to protecting Florida’s native ecosystem. Invasive species can displace native species, reduce biodiversity, and alter natural habitats. To learn more about invasive species in Florida or to report sightings, visit UF/IFAS Extension’s informational webpage.

After years of breeding and evaluation at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center (MREC), two new pothos cultivars, Snowy Stream and Green Isle, have been patented for their distinctive foliage characteristics in one of the world’s most popular houseplants. Developed by researchers Jianjun Chen, professor of horticultural sciences, and Richard Henny, MREC emeritus professor, […]

From greenhouse to patent: Two new pothos cultivars take root

University of Florida scientists are closer to a breakthrough that could safeguard the nation’s lettuce supply.  Backed by a $500,000 federal grant, the team is working to develop disease-resistant lettuce varieties built to withstand shifting weather and growing challenges. German Sandoya, associate professor of horticultural sciences at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_62005" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-62005" style="width: 380px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-62005" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2026/03/G-Sandoya-Photo-UFIFAS-Tyler-Jones-300x200.jpg" alt="German Sandoya (left) examining seed samples in a lab at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center.Photo credit: UF/IFAS Tyler Jones " width="380" height="253" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-62005" class="wp-caption-text">German Sandoya (left) examining seed samples in a lab at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center. Photo credit: UF/IFAS Tyler Jones</figcaption></figure>
University of Florida scientists are closer to a breakthrough that could safeguard the nation’s lettuce supply.  Backed by a $500,000 federal grant, the team is working to develop disease-resistant lettuce varieties built to withstand shifting weather and growing challenges.
<a href="https://erec.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty-pages/dr-german-sandoya-faculty-page/">German Sandoya</a>, associate professor of horticultural sciences at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is leading the effort with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
The research targets bacterial leaf spot, a persistent disease that can significantly reduce yield and quality. Scientists are also responding to rising temperatures that threaten lettuce, a crop adapted to cooler conditions.
“This type of research takes time,” said Sandoya, based at the <a href="https://erec.ifas.ufl.edu">UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center</a> in Belle Glade. “From the earliest breeding stages to releasing a cultivar, you are looking at seven to eight years. But we are now at the point where we have multiple promising lines and are narrowing them down.”
Florida is the nation’s third largest lettuce-growing state, with most of this crop produced during the winter. Farmers begin planting in early fall and continue through early spring. Harvest season starts in late fall and can run through April or even May.
But as a food staple in homes, vegetable gardens, restaurants and grocery stores across the country, this crop is increasingly threatened by rising temperatures, especially in subtropical states like Florida. At the same time, growers continue to battle bacterial leaf spot, a disease that can severely damage crops.
<figure id="attachment_62007" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-62007" style="width: 296px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-62007" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2026/03/PXL_20260226_160436041-226x300.jpg" alt="Byron Manzanero showing lettuce seedlings and how the inoculation process occurs in the laboratory. Lettuce seedlings are bagged after the pathogen inoculation; in these conditions of high humidity and high temperatures the pathogen easily proliferates.Photo credit: UF/IFAS Lourdes Mederos " width="296" height="393" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-62007" class="wp-caption-text">Byron Manzanero showing lettuce seedlings and how the inoculation process occurs in the laboratory. Lettuce seedlings are bagged after the pathogen inoculation; in these conditions of high humidity and high temperatures the pathogen easily proliferates. Photo credit: UF/IFAS Lourdes Mederos</figcaption></figure>
To build resistance, Sandoya and his team turned to a rare lettuce plant originally collected in Macedonia that naturally resists bacterial leaf spot. While not suitable for commercial production on its own, the plant has served as a valuable genetic source.
Using that source, researchers have developed hundreds of advanced breeding lines over several years. Now, with NIFA’s support, the team is moving into large-scale testing.
Trials are planned in Florida, California and Arizona to evaluate how the new lines perform across different climates and production systems, including open fields and greenhouse environments. Researchers are also testing the lettuce in sandy soils common in parts of Florida.
Beyond disease resistance, the team is evaluating traits that matter to growers, retailers and consumers, including appearance, texture and postharvest performance. Maintaining freshness during storage and transport is a key priority, especially for lettuce shipped over long distances.
“We have developed a wide range of lettuce types, including romaine, iceberg and leaf lettuce,” Sandoya said. “The goal is to provide growers with options that perform well in different production systems and meet market demands.”
Early findings suggest the breeding lines may offer an added benefit. Researchers believe the same genetic resistance could help protect against Cercospora leaf spot, another disease that becomes more common in warm conditions and currently lacks effective control options especially in greenhouse production.
If confirmed, the work could lead to one of the first public lettuce cultivars with resistance to multiple major diseases, offering a significant advantage to growers.
Once the strongest lines are identified, the team will increase seed production, prepare varieties for mechanical planting and host field demonstrations to encourage adoption by growers and industry partners.
“Our goal is to deliver solutions that work for growers in the field and provide high quality produce for consumers,” Sandoya said. “We are getting very close.”
###
<a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2026/03/24/al-filo-de-un-gran-avance-uf-ifas-desarrolla-variedades-de-lechuga-resistentes-a-enfermedades-para-fincas-y-cocinas-de-estados-unidos/">Para accesar a esta comunicación en español, por favor utilice este enlace.</a>
&nbsp;
By Lourdes Mederos, <a href="mailto:rodriguezl@ufl.edu">rodriguezl@ufl.edu</a>
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
&nbsp;
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME 
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at <a href="https://ifas.ufl.edu/food/">ifas.ufl.edu/food</a> or follow <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FoodIsOurMiddleName&amp;src=typed_query">#FoodIsOurMiddleName</a>.

German Sandoya (left) examining seed samples in a lab at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center.
Photo credit: UF/IFAS Tyler Jones
University of Florida scientists are closer to a breakthrough that could safeguard the nation’s lettuce supply.  Backed by a $500,000 federal grant, the team is working to develop disease-resistant lettuce varieties built to withstand shifting weather and growing challenges.
German Sandoya, associate professor of horticultural sciences at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is leading the effort with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
The research targets bacterial leaf spot, a persistent disease that can significantly reduce yield and quality. Scientists are also responding to rising temperatures that threaten lettuce, a crop adapted to cooler conditions.
“This type of research takes time,” said Sandoya, based at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade. “From the earliest breeding stages to releasing a cultivar, you are looking at seven to eight years. But we are now at the point where we have multiple promising lines and are narrowing them down.”
Florida is the nation’s third largest lettuce-growing state, with most of this crop produced during the winter. Farmers begin planting in early fall and continue through early spring. Harvest season starts in late fall and can run through April or even May.
But as a food staple in homes, vegetable gardens, restaurants and grocery stores across the country, this crop is increasingly threatened by rising temperatures, especially in subtropical states like Florida. At the same time, growers continue to battle bacterial leaf spot, a disease that can severely damage crops.
Byron Manzanero showing lettuce seedlings and how the inoculation process occurs in the laboratory. Lettuce seedlings are bagged after the pathogen inoculation; in these conditions of high humidity and high temperatures the pathogen easily proliferates.
Photo credit: UF/IFAS Lourdes Mederos
To build resistance, Sandoya and his team turned to a rare lettuce plant originally collected in Macedonia that naturally resists bacterial leaf spot. While not suitable for commercial production on its own, the plant has served as a valuable genetic source.
Using that source, researchers have developed hundreds of advanced breeding lines over several years. Now, with NIFA’s support, the team is moving into large-scale testing.
Trials are planned in Florida, California and Arizona to evaluate how the new lines perform across different climates and production systems, including open fields and greenhouse environments. Researchers are also testing the lettuce in sandy soils common in parts of Florida.
Beyond disease resistance, the team is evaluating traits that matter to growers, retailers and consumers, including appearance, texture and postharvest performance. Maintaining freshness during storage and transport is a key priority, especially for lettuce shipped over long distances.
“We have developed a wide range of lettuce types, including romaine, iceberg and leaf lettuce,” Sandoya said. “The goal is to provide growers with options that perform well in different production systems and meet market demands.”
Early findings suggest the breeding lines may offer an added benefit. Researchers believe the same genetic resistance could help protect against Cercospora leaf spot, another disease that becomes more common in warm conditions and currently lacks effective control options especially in greenhouse production.
If confirmed, the work could lead to one of the first public lettuce cultivars with resistance to multiple major diseases, offering a significant advantage to growers.
Once the strongest lines are identified, the team will increase seed production, prepare varieties for mechanical planting and host field demonstrations to encourage adoption by growers and industry partners.
“Our goal is to deliver solutions that work for growers in the field and provide high quality produce for consumers,” Sandoya said. “We are getting very close.”
###
Para accesar a esta comunicación en español, por favor utilice este enlace.
 
By Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS
 
WHY FOOD IS OUR MIDDLE NAME
Feeding a hungry world takes effort. Nearly everything we do comes back to food: from growing it and getting it to consumers, to conserving natural resources and supporting agricultural efforts. Explore all the reasons why at ifas.ufl.edu/food or follow #FoodIsOurMiddleName.

University of Florida scientists are closer to a breakthrough that could safeguard the nation’s lettuce supply.  Backed by a $500,000 federal grant, the team is working to develop disease-resistant lettuce varieties built to withstand shifting weather and growing challenges. German Sandoya, associate professor of horticultural sciences at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) […]

On the edge of a breakthrough: UF/IFAS breeding disease-resistant lettuce for U.S. farms, kitchens

Disease-resistant and tastier blackberries could be on the horizon — thanks to new genetic research from the University of Florida. New University of Florida blackberry varieties could provide a boon for Florida farmers looking to rebound after the decline of Florida citrus and who see an opportunity to meet the growing demand for blackberries, which [&#8230;]

Disease-resistant and tastier blackberries could be on the horizon — thanks to new genetic research from the University of Florida.
<figure id="attachment_52787" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-52787" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-52787 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="Blackberries on a plate. " width="300" height="238" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2025/04/Blackberries_genome2_021725-300x238.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-52787" class="wp-caption-text">Blackberries. Courtesy, UF/IFAS.</figcaption></figure>
New University of Florida blackberry varieties could provide a boon for Florida farmers looking to rebound after the decline of Florida citrus and who see an opportunity to meet the growing demand for blackberries, which have soared in popularity in recent years.
“Overall, this study not only advances our understanding of blackberry genetics, but it sets the stage for significant improvements in blackberry breeding techniques,” said UF/IFAS researcher <a href="https://gcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/gcrec-facultystaff-directory/drzhanaodeng/">Zhanao Deng</a>, who led the study, which was <a href="https://academic.oup.com/hr/article/12/6/uhaf052/8020809">recently published in the journal Horticulture Research</a>.
“The end result could be better, more robust blackberry varieties that benefit both growers and consumers worldwide,” Deng said.
Click <a href="https://news.ufl.edu/2025/04/blackberry-genome/">here for more on this research</a>.
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.

Disease-resistant and tastier blackberries could be on the horizon — thanks to new genetic research from the University of Florida.
Blackberries. Courtesy, UF/IFAS.
New University of Florida blackberry varieties could provide a boon for Florida farmers looking to rebound after the decline of Florida citrus and who see an opportunity to meet the growing demand for blackberries, which have soared in popularity in recent years.
“Overall, this study not only advances our understanding of blackberry genetics, but it sets the stage for significant improvements in blackberry breeding techniques,” said UF/IFAS researcher Zhanao Deng, who led the study, which was recently published in the journal Horticulture Research.
“The end result could be better, more robust blackberry varieties that benefit both growers and consumers worldwide,” Deng said.
Click here for more on this research.
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.

Disease-resistant and tastier blackberries could be on the horizon — thanks to new genetic research from the University of Florida. New University of Florida blackberry varieties could provide a boon for Florida farmers looking to rebound after the decline of Florida citrus and who see an opportunity to meet the growing demand for blackberries, which […]

Decoding blackberry DNA: UF study paves the way for enhanced breeding strategies and better berries for Florida farmers and consumers

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Plant breeding is the science of genetically improving plants for the benefit of humankind. [AGROVOC]

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From greenhouse to patent: Two new pothos cultivars take root

On the edge of a breakthrough: UF/IFAS breeding disease-resistant lettuce for U.S. farms, kitchens

Decoding blackberry DNA: UF study paves the way for enhanced breeding strategies and better berries for Florida farmers and consumers