Impact of Polygonum polystachyum Wall. ExMeisn. (Himalayan knotweed) infestation on physio-biochemical parameters of the Picrorhiza kurroa Royle

• Published in: Acta physiologiae plantarum 2022-11, Vol.44 (11), Article 107
• Main Authors: Trivedi, Vijay Laxmi, Chandra, Sudeep, Nautiyal, M. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptability; Agriculture; Alpine regions; Aquatic plants; Biochemistry; Biodiversity; Biodiversity hot spots; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chlorophyll; Environmental management; Flora; Flowers & plants; Fluorescence; Herbal medicine; Indigenous species; Leaf area; Life Sciences; Medicinal plants; Metabolites; Nutrient uptake; Original Article; Oxidative stress; Parameters; Photosynthesis; Picrorhiza kurroa; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Biochemistry; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plants (botany); Polygonum polystachyum; Rooting; Secondary metabolites; Stomata; Stomatal conductance; Sustainability management; Transpiration; Understory; Water use; Water use efficiency
• ISSN: 0137-5881; 1861-1664
• DOI: 10.1007/s11738-022-03446-y

Alpine regions of Western Himalaya are biodiversity hot-spots and consist large number of important native medicinal plants. Due to several reasons, most of these native flora are in rare, endangered and threatened categories. Polygonum polystachyum Wall. Ex Meisn (Himalayan Knotweed) is considered a threat to native alpine flora by several researchers. The present study was designed to estimate the effect of P. polystachyum on morpho-physiology and biochemistry of native alpine species. The growth, biomass, physiological (gaseous exchange parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence) and biochemical parameters (pigment content and antioxidant activity) of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle were recorded from plants growing understory of P. polystachyum (K + P) and compared with plants growing in open field (control, without P. polystachyum ). We found that the leaf area, foliar biomass, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, water use efficiency, chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment content increased in P. kurroa plants growing with P. polystachyum in comparison to control. The plant height, stolon, root morphology and productivity of P. kurroa were unaffected in K + P. The surface rooting in P. kurroa may facilitate better nutrient uptake and favor its adaptation with P. polystachyum . Control plants of P. kurroa were exposed to sun light and facing greater oxidative stress which was ameliorated in plants growing with P. polystachyum . The study suggests greater adaptability of P. kurroa with P. polystachyum which can be beneficial in sustainable management of ecological services. There is scope for more studies estimating impact on secondary metabolites as P. kurroa is widely used in various herbal formulations.