The Biology of Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. 12.Pueraria montanavar.lobata(Willd.) Sanjappa & Predeep

Abstract

Lindgren, C. J., Castro, K. L., Coiner, H. A., Nurse, R. E. and Darbyshire, S. J. 2013. The Biology of Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. 12. Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa & Predeep. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 71–95. Kudzu, Pueraria montana var. lobata, is a perennial climbing vine known for its rapid and competitive growth. Introduced to North America and promoted at various times as a crop, an ornamental, and an erosion prevention tool, its negative impacts have been varied and severe in the United States. Dense populations overtop and smother crops and native vegetation, alter nitrogen cycles, and have the potential to affect air quality. Kudzu is winter-deciduous in North America with stems re-growing each season. In Canada, growth occurs from May until September, long enough for production of viable seed. Although widely believed to be intolerant of winter temperatures typical in eastern Canada, underground structures may be able to withstand temperatures as low as −30°C, and northward range expansion is predicted by climate change models. Dispersal in North America is primarily through intentional planting by humans, with clonal propagation and limited seed production and germination contributing to local population expansion. Only one population is known in Canada, near Leamington, Ontario. Once established, kudzu is difficult to eliminate or control without repeated actions. Efforts to prevent the movement and sale of kudzu in Canada, along with early detection and rapid response, monitoring, and education, offer potential strategies for control. Depending on the age, size and location of the population, herbicides, burning, mowing and grazing can be effective control measures.

Analyzing the phenologic dynamics of kudzu (Pueraria montana) infestations using remote sensing and the normalized difference vegetation index.

“…Changes in the weather can also affect how efficiently kudzu grows. As mention earlier this plant prefers temperatures ranging from 25C and 30C and precipitation of at least 100 cm per year (Forseth and Innis 2004;Lindgren et al 2013). Future studies could potentially correlate temperature and precipitation fluctuations with trends and breaks detected using the BFAST analysis.…”

“…Attributes may include earlier green-up time, leaf shape, or flowers (Hunt, Hamilton, and Everitt, n.d.). Kudzu has a noticeably higher LAI value and above ground biomass 10-15 times greater than deciduous forests and other planophile species (Forseth and Innis 2004;Lindgren et al 2013). The planophile orientation of kudzu leaves allows it to reflect more in the NIR spectrum and absorb more in the red spectrum when compared to leaves that have an erectophile orientation (Turner et al, 1999).…”

“…Google EarthPro TM on 6/13/2014 and saved as a .kml file which was later converted to a .shp file using ArcMap 10.3.1. for photosynthesis and other factors (Blaustein 2001;Smith 2010;Lindgren et al 2013). …”

“…None the less, it does prefer certain conditions over others. Its bioclimatic requirements include at least 100 cm of precipitation per year and temperatures between 25C and 30C for maximum photosynthesis (Forseth et al 2004;Lindgren et al 2013). During peak periods of growth, this species has been known to elongate up to 1 foot per day (Smith 2010).…”

“…These growth habits often result in kudzu outcompeting other vegetation as it blankets any surface that it encounters. Growth can be stunted when exposed to low temperatures and decreased rainfall (Lindgren et al 2013). …”