Warming May Make Toxic Invasive Reed Even More Effective At Killing Native Plants

[hatrack]

Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered a new reason why the tall, tasseled reed Phragmites australis is one of the most invasive plants in the United States. The UD research team found that Phragmites delivers a one-two chemical knock-out punch to snuff out its victims, and the poison becomes even more toxic in the presence of the sun's ultraviolet rays.

The study, which is published in the June issue of the scientific journal Plant Signaling and Behavior, is believed to be the first to report the effects of UV-B radiation on plant allelopathy, the production of toxins by a plant to ward off encroachment by neighboring plants.

EDIT

The research was conducted in Delaware wetlands and in Bais's lab at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, a major center for life sciences research at the University of Delaware.

"The toxin secreted by Phragmites is degraded by sunlight - ultraviolet rays - and causes severe deleterious effects on other native plants," Bais said.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Changing_Climate_May_Make_Super_Weed_Even_More_Powerful_999.html

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Hope no one confuses this w/natve P. communis, which is edible ...

http://books.google.com/books?id=_ocFaW5bu7cC&pg=PA144&lpg=PA144&dq=phragmites+edible&source=bl&ots=1cdeTVsq9Q&sig=BrQKYvwgDqEtHJAo_I4G9SpZIks&hl=en&ei=idAySsqaFsmLtgexhsz4Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6#PPA144,M1

[kestrel91316]

2. Meanwhile on the Western Front, we have our ongoing battle

against the Giant Reed, Arundo donax. Scourge of western wetlands.......