Hot water treatment gives promising results on Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)
(2023) BION03 20221Degree Projects in Biology
- Abstract
- Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is a problematic plant species that causes a lot of damage on anthropological constructions as well as ecosystems throughout Europe. Several attempts have been made to control this species, such as glyphosates, cutting/mowing, covering with geoweave and digging, so far with varying degrees of success. In recent times different techniques of heat treatment have also been tested. This report investigates how effective hot water treatment is at controlling this problematic plant species. Samples of hot water treated rhizomes were collected at 11 sites, located in four municipalities in southern Sweden, where eight rhizome samples were collected at each site. Samples were also collected from three... (More)
- Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is a problematic plant species that causes a lot of damage on anthropological constructions as well as ecosystems throughout Europe. Several attempts have been made to control this species, such as glyphosates, cutting/mowing, covering with geoweave and digging, so far with varying degrees of success. In recent times different techniques of heat treatment have also been tested. This report investigates how effective hot water treatment is at controlling this problematic plant species. Samples of hot water treated rhizomes were collected at 11 sites, located in four municipalities in southern Sweden, where eight rhizome samples were collected at each site. Samples were also collected from three control sites that correspond to three of the municipalities. A part of each rhizome sample was planted in a greenhouse, the other part was brought to a lab where they were stained using the vital stains propidium iodide (PI) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA). In addition, an inventory of hot water treated stands in Ängelholm municipality was performed to check for above ground effects in the field. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Could hot water be the answer to controlling Japanese knotweed?
Despite numerous efforts to control Japanese knotweed, there is no reliable and cost-efficient way to accomplish this. Japanese knotweed spreads easily and withstands most control methods. Traditionally, mowing is used to reduce plant growth, but this method is very debated regarding Japanese knotweed since it may increase the risk of spreading the plant. In recent years, the Heatweed® method that is used for weed control has been applied for Japanese knotweed. The Heatweed® method uses boiling water, which is sprayed on the rhizomes (underground stems) of Japanese knotweed. The issue with several control methods is that only the above ground parts of Japanese knotweed are... (More) - Could hot water be the answer to controlling Japanese knotweed?
Despite numerous efforts to control Japanese knotweed, there is no reliable and cost-efficient way to accomplish this. Japanese knotweed spreads easily and withstands most control methods. Traditionally, mowing is used to reduce plant growth, but this method is very debated regarding Japanese knotweed since it may increase the risk of spreading the plant. In recent years, the Heatweed® method that is used for weed control has been applied for Japanese knotweed. The Heatweed® method uses boiling water, which is sprayed on the rhizomes (underground stems) of Japanese knotweed. The issue with several control methods is that only the above ground parts of Japanese knotweed are treated. The extensive network of rhizomes underground is left essentially untouched allowing the rhizomes to continue producing new shoots year after year. The upside of Heatweed® treatment is that it is applied to the below-ground rhizomes instead.
So why do we need to control Japanese knotweed? Japanese knotweed is a problematic species that causes damages to infrastructure that amount to 1.1-4.5 billion SEK per year. These damages are caused by thick rhizomes that grow into railways and highways and in some rare cases foundations to houses. Additionally, it causes ecological problems. Japanese knotweed stands grow very tall and fast which means that they outcompete other plant species. Invasive alien species are classified as one of the top five threats to biodiversity today and it is expected to get worse with increasing climate change. If we continue to lose biodiversity, we also risk losing key ecosystem services like pollination or biological pest control. It is crucial that we take strong measures to preserve biodiversity, since our way of life today depends on it. One such measure is to try to reduce the spread and negative impact of invasive alien species. To do this, more reliant and readily available control methods are needed, and we need to raise awareness of the consequences we might face if we don’t act in time. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9113458
- author
- Forsman, Eila
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BION03 20221
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 9113458
- date added to LUP
- 2023-04-14 11:02:38
- date last changed
- 2023-04-14 11:02:38
@misc{9113458,
abstract = {{Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is a problematic plant species that causes a lot of damage on anthropological constructions as well as ecosystems throughout Europe. Several attempts have been made to control this species, such as glyphosates, cutting/mowing, covering with geoweave and digging, so far with varying degrees of success. In recent times different techniques of heat treatment have also been tested. This report investigates how effective hot water treatment is at controlling this problematic plant species. Samples of hot water treated rhizomes were collected at 11 sites, located in four municipalities in southern Sweden, where eight rhizome samples were collected at each site. Samples were also collected from three control sites that correspond to three of the municipalities. A part of each rhizome sample was planted in a greenhouse, the other part was brought to a lab where they were stained using the vital stains propidium iodide (PI) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA). In addition, an inventory of hot water treated stands in Ängelholm municipality was performed to check for above ground effects in the field.}},
author = {{Forsman, Eila}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Hot water treatment gives promising results on Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)}},
year = {{2023}},
}