Promising Areas of Polygonum Weyrichii Use and Its Invasive Potential

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to review scientific research on some areas of practical use of the non-traditional agricultural plant – Polygonum weyrichii. Being a representative of the Far Eastern tall grass, this species forms sustainable long-term plantations in cultivation even outside its primary range. In a number of regions of Russia, under conditions of sufficient moisture, it can be a source of valuable medicinal raw materials with a high content of flavonoids for the pharmaceutical industry. Large monodominant thickets of Polygonum weyrichii fit well into the landscaping of intra-block areas of settlements. The species is highly stable in culture due to its exceptional longevity (decades) and the ability to support self-renewal of the population by seed and vegetative methods. The use of Polygonum weyrichii in phytoremediation in the creation of nature-like technologies for cleaning polluted water bodies is shown. A new direction for using Polygonum weyrichii is cultivation for carbon farming on carbon farms. The resource potential of the Polygonum weyrichii is not limited to its traditional use as a fodder silage crop, but allows for the provision of a variety of environmental services (production, environmental, etc.), provided that the public is informed about the possible consequences of “escaping” from the crop and invading natural ecosystems. Most often, the Polygonum weyrichii “escapes” from the collections of botanical gardens and cultivation sites, which are currently private garden plots. It is not yet among the invasive species in Russia, but in some regions it is already creating serious problems, forming monodominant vast thickets on fallow lands and penetrating into natural plant communities.