Invasion of the Giant Hogweed and the Sosnowsky’s Hogweed as a Multidisciplinary Problem with Unknown Future—A Review

Abstract

Caucasian hogweeds are plants introduced to Europe from the Caucasus area. This review concerns the two most common ones—the giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum and the Sosnowsky’s hogweed Heracleum sosnowskyi. The first of them was imported as garden decorations from the 19th century, mainly to Western Europe, while the second one was introduced from the mid–20th century to agricultural areas in Eastern Europe. Nowadays, these two species create one of the most problematic invasions in the world. This review aimed to synthesize research on those invaders based on 277 articles selected from the “Scopus” database. Most of the articles concerned their extensive distribution, at least on a continental scale and the rapid dispersal. The reviewed research showed that the complex physicochemical properties of hogweeds tissues and secretions significantly affected insects, aphids, ants, nematodes, fungi, soil microorganisms, plant communities, birds, and many other components of the ecosystems. This knowledge turned out to be disproportionately small to the scale of the problem. The review also showed what ecological traits of hogweeds were responsible for their wide and various role in the environment. Thus far, no effective method to eradicate Caucasian hogweeds has been found. This could be a growing mistake, given that they are probably during the rapid evolutionary changes within the range of their invasion.

Non-chemical control methods of Sosnowsky’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnovskyi Manden.)

“…A prerequisite for the successful control of annual plants of H. sosnowskyi in crops is the regular inspection of crops and the determination of species composition of weeds at the cotyledon stage in order to timely detect H. sosnowskyi seedlings and carry out weeds control measures (Sužiedelytė Visockienė et al, 2020). On the other hand, the decision to remove invaders should have been supported by the results of interdisciplinary research, because some animals, due to the lack of natural habitats, might not be able to recreate relationships already established with this plant (Grzezicka, 2022).…”

“…This plant species has turned into transformers and supplanted the native species significantly reducing the diversity (Osipova et al, 2021). According to other researchers (Grzezicka, 2022), only 15−20 species of mostly weed ruderal species of herbaceous plants can survive growing with H. sosnowskyi. This species displaces species of forage and medicinal plants from floodplain phytocenoses.…”

“…Thermal control (heating) of H. sosnowskyi juvenile plants could be one of the possible methods for residential areas, where the use of herbicides is limited. Ecological traits of H. sosnovskyj are responsible for their wide and various role in the environment, and no effective method to eradicate this weed has been found (Grzezicka, 2022), therefore, methods for the control of this plant-invader are highly required.…”

Chemical control of Sosnowsky’s hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) in Ukraine

“…Hogweed occupies a specific place among weeds in crops and the environment (Baležentienė et al, 2013;Dalke et al, 2015;Čerevková et al, 2020). Sosnowsky's hogweed, which was introduced and established as a promising crop for a forage, became an aggressive invasive adventitious object that poses a danger to both natural phytocenoses and humans (Grzedzicka, 2022). The most important features of H. sosnowskyi plants for monostand formation in invaded areas are the early commencement of growth, the rapid formation of a dense canopy, the high efficiency of light and water use during photosynthesis, the ability of young plants to survive in low light conditions, the rapid recovery of above-ground plant parts after damage, and the high density of the soil seed bank.…”

“…There are 69 species of Heracleum L. worldwide, mainly in the temperate zone of Eurasia (Pyšek et al, 2007;Gubar, Koniakin, 2021;Grzedzicka, 2022). There are over 20 species of plants of the genus Heracleum known in Europe.…”