Conjectures Of The Spread of Invasive Japanese Knotweed Using Genetic Diversity Determined by Molecular Tools

Introduced as a garden ornamental in the nineteenth century, Japanese Knotweed has since become known as an invasive weed throughout Europe and portions of the United States.  While Knotweed first spread vegetatively, it has since been found to have hybridized, promoting its own genetic diversity.  It is classified under the family Fallopia and the most common species are Fallopia japonica, Fallopia sachalinensis, and Fallopia baldschuanica.  Evidence has been found around the U.S. suggesting that there has since been further evolution of Japanese Knotweed.  Signs of these hybrids were first seen in Massachusetts and now have been collected as far west as Montana and as far south as Colorado.  The Ecological Resource Centers Department that deals with invasive species in Colorado recently recognized any species of Fallopia as a threat to our native vegetation, a big step towards success for the project.  However, there are still only a few states within the northwest and northeast region that have even begun looking at it as potentially harmful.  By learning which species’ are in Colorado, the invasion can be tracked and potential problem regions can be determined.  After testing numerous primers, a few complementary ones were selected to highlight several different sections of the DNA and allow plants to be distinguished from one another.  A series of climate related tests will support my looking at how temperature is a growth-limiting factor in the spread of Japanese Knotweed.  Research results will impact knowledge of hybridized weed invasions and advance invasive weed prevention and management.