Invasive Plants – What makes them invasive and what to do with them? Natural Products and Applications

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Various factors can contribute to the successful invasion of a plant in specific habitats, ranging from chemical changes in their surrounding soil, to biological aspects like high seed spreading. Allelopathy is the release of secondary metabolites by a plant that affect the germination and growth of nearby plants.

This presentation focuses on showing the phytotoxicity of Gunnera tinctoria (Molina) Mirbel and Hedychium gardnerianum Sheph. ex Ker Gawl., two major invasive plants in Azores, against etiolated wheat coleoptiles, as well as their effects in the germination and growth of selected weeds and crop species. Through these in vitro assays, the first steps were taken to understand the aggressive invasive capacity of both plants.

Additionally, it will also be addressed the potential to convert invasive plant biomass into valuable health and agricultural products with both economic and environmental benefits.