Kudzu: “The vine that ate the South” By Trip Wray Presentation Outline

 Basic Overview of Plant  History of Plant’s Use  Three Parts of the Kudzu Vine that I find really interesting: 1. Paraheliotropic Movement of Leaves 2. Reproduction 3. Control Mechanisms Basic Overview of Kudzu

 Latin name: Pueraria montana  Plant Family: Fabaceae  Origin: China  Can Grow 60 ft per year  Roots: tuberous, reach soil depth of 3-9 ft  Leaves: Trifoliate  Flower: Purple  Seeds: Three per fruit Uses in China

 Fiber for Clothes (leaves)

 Medicinal Uses (roots)

 Livestock Feed (leaves)

 Alcohol Brewing

 Soil Erosion Management Original Use in the United States  Came to the United States in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition  Admired for Aesthetic qualities  Used as ornamental piece Developing Role in the United States  Became important device for preventing soil erosion between 1930-1940  However, it grew out of control. In 1950, it was banned as a preventative for soil erosion.  By 1970, Kudzu was officially listed as a weed.  By 1997, it was placed on Invasive and Noxious Weed List Paraheliotropic Movement in Leaves

 Leaves move parallel to the sun’s position.  Allows the leaves to:  Not absorb sunrays that they can’t photosynthesize  Not overheat. Its leaves are 5-6°C cooler than leaves that do not practice paraheliotropism.  Reduce water loss by 26% (Foresth and Innis 2004).  Provide sunlight to second layer leaves. Reproduction without Seed Germination  Ability to root wherever stems hit the surface  After short time period (~3 years), newly formed kudzu plant breaks away, forming independent plant.  Without this adaptation, kudzu would depend on seed germination  Their seeds require seed scarification (mechanically broken down by hand, fire, or acid)  Seed Germination success rate 7-17% (Foresth and Innis 2004). Regulating the Growth of the Kudzu Vine  The United States lacks adequate amount of natural, kudzu predators and pathogens.  Scientists are testing new herbicides, insects, and even GOATS!  None have been successful in the long term, however.  Problem is that the United States has to be careful of not introducing a new predator that would damage ecosystems even more.