The current status of the plant invasions in Belarus

This article provides a review of the current status of plant invasions in Belarus. As a result of this research into the alien flora between 2008 and 2020 a list of 52 invasive plant species that threaten biodiversity, human health, and economic has been compiled. About 300 taxa of non-native plants are currently classified as potentially invasive. The list of invasive plant species has been proposed in this article in accordance with trends in the invasive processes is the basis for the monitoring and management of plant invasions in Belarus. The preliminary data from the previous field seasons showed a significant increase in the population abundance and distribution of Swida alba, Rudbeckia laciniata and Artemisia abrotanum. Enrichment of the flora occurs due to the introduction of aggressive plants. Hybridization between native and alien plant species leads to the appearance of hybrids, which often have an invasive potential, and can invade not only disturbed habitats but also natural plant communities. The invasive properties, expansion, and aggressive behavior of these invasive plants of the alien flora of Belarus has led to significant, often irreversible, changes in the natural vegetation and vegetation cover. Invasive species such as Solidago canadensis, S. gigantea, Echynocystis lobata, Impatiens glandulifera are marked by rapid expansion over past decades, and Heracleum sosnowskyi, Solidago canadensis, S. gigantea, Echinocystis lobata, Impatiens parviflora, Acer negundo, Robinia pseudoacacia, Bidens frondosa, have invaded more recently.

Effect of Organic Nutrients and Growth Regulators on Yield and Quality of Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L)

An Investigation was conducted to study the effect of organic inputs and growth regulators on yield and quality of goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) was conducted at the floricultural unit, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University during 2018. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with twelve treatments, various organic inputs and growth regulators including panchagavya @ 3%, vermiwash 1:5 dilutions, humic acid @ 0.2%, GA3 @ 250 ppm, NAA @ 250 ppm were applied. The yield and quality characters were studied at different stages. The observations recorded viz., yield of flower stalks/ha, days to first flowering, length of flower stalks and weight of individual flower stalks. The results revealed that plants treated with NAA @ 250 ppm + panchagavya @ 3% (T9) was observed highest flower stalk yield (1140.02 flower stalks/ha), No. of flower stalks/plant (24.48), weight of individual flower stalks, days to first flowering. Considering the overall performance, it was found that the plants treated with NAA @ 250ppm + Panchagavya @ 3% recorded better performance with regard to growth, yield and quality characters.

Integrated analysis of mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq reveals the advantage of polyploid Solidago canadensis in sexual reproduction

Background The invasion of Solidago canadensis probably related to polyploidy, which may promotes its potential of sexual reproductive. S. canadensis as an invasive species which rapidly widespread through yield huge numbers of seed, but the mechanism remains unknown. To better understand the advantages of sexual reproduction in hexaploid S. canadensis, transcriptome and small RNA sequencing of diploid and hexaploid cytotypes in flower bud and fruit development stages were performed in this study. Results The transcriptome analysis showed that in the flower bud stage, 29 DEGs were MADS-box related genes with 14 up-regulated and 15 down-regulated in hexaploid S. canadensis; 12 SPL genes were detected differentially expressed with 5 up-regulated and 7 down-regulated. In the fruit development stage, 26 MADS-box related genes with 20 up-regulated and 6 down-regulated in hexaploid S. canadensis; 5 SPL genes were all up-regulated; 28 seed storage protein related genes with 18 were up-regulated and 10 down-regulated. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified 19 modules which consisted of co-expressed DEGs with functions such as sexual reproduction, secondary metabolism and transcription factors. Furthermore, we discovered 326 miRNAs with 67 known miRNAs and 259 novel miRNAs. Some of miRNAs, such as miR156, miR156a and miR156f, which target the sexual reproduction related genes. Conclusion Our study provides a global view of the advantages of sexual reproduction in hexaploid S. canadensis based on the molecular mechanisms, which may promote hexaploid S. canadensis owing higher yield and fruit quality in the process of sexual reproduction and higher germination rate of seeds, and finally conductive to diffusion, faster propagation process and enhanced invasiveness.

Growth, development, morphology and biochemical characteristics of Solidago canadensis L. plants when introduced in the middle taiga subzone of the Komi Republic

The paper presents the results of a long-term study of four samples of Canadian goldenrod ( Solidago canadensis L.) of different geographic origin introduced in the middle taiga subzone of the Komi Republic. Under cultural conditions, the species is highly resistant and longevity (up to 18 years). It has been established that with the introduction in the North, reproduction of the Canadian goldenrod is possible by vegetative means, as well as from seeds of foreign origin. The mass transition of plants grown by seedlings to the generative period occurs in the third year of life. According to the flowering rhythm (July 31 - September 25), the species is classified as a mid-summer-mid-autumn plant. Fruiting of plants is interrupted by frost, full-fledged seeds are not formed. The morphological features of the generative shoot have been studied. The plant height in culture reaches 143-155 cm. The number of leaves on the stem is 63-101. The floral part of the shoot (inflorescence) 30-39 cm long is formed from the axils of 41-49 leaves and consists of 21-41 paracladia 8-13 cm long. The number of baskets on one shoot in different specimens of Canadian goldenrod varies from 2700 to 4200. The content of nitrogen mass fraction (1,8-3,0%) in the aboveground raw phytomass of Canadian goldenrod has been studied for the first time and the quantitative and qualitative composition of amino acids in plant proteins has been determined. The total content of amino acids in the plant raw material of Canadian goldenrod has varied from 7,9 to 15,1% over the years. In the aboveground phytomass of plants, 17 amino acids have been found and determined, including 7 irreplaceable ones. The share of essential amino acids has averaged 37% of the total. The highest rates of equity participation have been noted for the following amino acids: proline, glutamic, aspartic, lysine, leucine, valine, alanine, arginine and glycine - 13,2; 11,0; 10,8; 8,4; 8,0; 5,9; 5,8; 5,7 and 5,2%, respectively. In the conditions of the North, biochemical studies of this species have been carried out for the first time. The content of flavonols in the aboveground raw phytomass of Canadian goldenrod have been 4,5-5,7% and met the requirements for medicinal raw materials (more than 3%). The yield of essential oil and its component composition have been determined. The EO content in the aboveground phytomass of plants has varied from 0,85 to 1,7% in terms of absolutely dry raw material. In the composition of EM, 39 components have been reliably identified, nine of which have been attributed to the main ones. The dominant compounds are: -pinene (up to 43,9%), myrcene (up to 18,2%), limonene (up to 13,2%), -3-carene (up to 12,0%); from sesquiterpenoids: germacrene D (up to 54,3%), bornyl acetate (up to 5,8%), geranyl acetate (up to 2,4%), cadinadiene (up to 2,0%), sesqui-fellandrene (up to 1,4%).

Effects of latitude and soil microbes on the resistance of invasive Solidago canadensis to its co-evolved insect herbivore Corythucha marmorata

Aims There is an increasing likelihood that invasive plants are again exposed to their co-evolved specialist herbivores in the non-native range. However, whether there is a latitudinal pattern associated with the resistance of an invasive plant to its co-evolved herbivores and how soil microbes affect resistance has been little explored. We hypothesized that the resistance of invasive Solidago canadensis to its co-evolved insect herbivore Corythucha marmorata could increase with latitude, and that local rhizosphere microbes could facilitate invasive plants to become resistant to their co-evolved herbivores. Methods We conducted a field survey and a greenhouse experiment to examine whether there was a latitudinal pattern in the abundance of C. marmorata and in the damage it caused to S. canadensis in China. We tested whether local rhizosphere microbes of invasive plants can promote the resistance of S. canadensis to C. marmorata herbivory. Important findings In the field survey, both density of C. marmorata and damage level of S. canadensis were positively correlated with latitude, and with S. canadensis plant growth, indicating a latitudinal pattern in the resistance of S. canadensis to C. marmorata. However, in the greenhouse experiment, S. canadensis from different latitudes did not suffer significantly from different levels of damage from C. marmorata. Additionally, the damage level of S. canadensis was lower when rhizosphere soil and rhizomes originated from field S. canadensis with same damage level than with different damage levels. This result indicates that local rhizosphere soil microbes promote the adaptation of S. canadensis to resistance of C. marmorata.

The Role of Flavonoids in Invasion Strategy of Solidago canadensis L.

This study provides data on the problem of potential complexation of phenolic compounds synthesized by the plants Solidago canadensis L. and Solidago gigantea Ait. with ammonium forms of nitrogen, partly immobilized in the soil. A comparative analysis of secondary metabolites of the studied plants was performed by HPLC. The leaves of invasively active Solidago canadensis contain nine times more rutin than the plants of Solidago gigantea. Adding to the leaf extracts (v/v1/20) aqueous ammonia solution to pH 8.0 on the chromatograms decreases the intensity or completely causes peaks of flavonoids to disappear; instead, there are peaks of new polar substances (tR 1.5 and 2.0 min). The selective effect of the phenol-ammonium complex on various plant species was revealed. At a concentration of 20 μg/mL, these substances stimulated the formation of lateral roots in soybean seedlings and chrysanthemum cuttings. The suppression of root growth in radish seedlings occurred at a concentration of flavonoids in the extract of 25 μg/mL. In addition, a positive chemotaxis of the Pseudomonas putida (PGPR) was detected in the nitrogen-containing complex based on rutin (5 μg/mL). The identified feature allows PGPR colonization of the root system of Solidago canadensis with corresponding changes in the structure of the microbial community. The ability of the obtained nitrogen-containing polar complexes to regulate the growth processes of plants at extremely low concentration points to promising research in this direction.