ARS | Publication request: GROWTH RESPONSE OF THE INVASIVE WEED TROPICAL SPIDERWORT TO ELEVATED ATMOSPHERIC CO2

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Branch Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 29, 2005
Publication Date: November 29, 2005
Citation: Prior, S.A., Price, A.J., Runion, G.B., Rogers Jr, H.H., Gjerstad, D.H., Torbert III, H.A. 2006. Growth response of the invasive weed tropical spiderwort to elevated atmospheric co2 [abstract]. American Society of Agronomy Branch Meeting. 2006 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: Invasive plants are considered to be a major threat to the Earth’s biodiversity and cost U.S. agricultural and forest producers billions dollars each year from decreased productivity and increased costs of production for weed control. While considerable effort is being spent studying these exotic plant pests, little consideration has been given as to how invasive plants might react to the increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Tropical spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis L.) is considered one the world’s worst weeds and is becoming more of a problem in agricultural settings of the southeastern US. Tropical spiderwort was grown under ambient and elevated levels of CO2. Under elevated CO2 conditions, plant organ parts exhibited significant increases in dry weight (leaf, 36%, flower,30%; stem, 48%) and the overall increase in total aboveground biomass was 44%. Total stem length was unaffected by CO2 level while total leaf number and total flower number showed trends for increase (~20%) due to additional CO2. The strong growth response of the invasive weed tropical spiderwort suggest that its competitive ability with native plants will be enhanced in a future high CO2 environment.