Poster: Root biology

Abs # 695: The Dispersal Mechanism of Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)

Presenter:	Wymer, Carol L, c.wymer@moreheadstate.edu
Authors	Wymer, Carol L (A)   Edington, Jeanna  (A)   Morgan, Virginia A (A)   Stepp, Amy  (A)   Peyton, David K (A)
Affiliations:	(A): Morehead State University

Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum, synonym Fallopia japonica) is an invasive plant species that has spread across the US and Canada. It has become prevalent in Eastern Kentucky where it is found along streams and in areas disturbed by humans. In an effort to understand Japanese knotweed’s dispersal mechanism, we have used PCR-based DNA fingerprinting to determine the relatedness of plant populations along two creeks. One creek was sampled at one meter intervals and the other at approx. one mile intervals. PCR was performed using random primers. The results of this analysis will be presented. As a complement to this population-level study, Japanese knotweed’s mechanism of dispersal is also being studied at the gene-level. Japanese knotweed can propagate through adventitious root formation. We have identified an ortholog of the Arabidopsis Lateral Root Primordium -1 gene in Japanese knotweed in order to investigate its role in this process.