Thunbergia is a highly invasive weed with strong regenerative ability. It is difficult to eradicate and has a great destructive power on the ecological environment. Therefore, it is important to learn how to identify Thunbergia in advance and reduce its harm.
【Methods to Identify Thunbergia】
1. Roots: Well-developed root system with many fine roots that penetrate deeply.
2. Stems: Upright, branching in the upper part, with ridges and sparsely hairy rough hairs. Height ranges from 20 to 150cm.
3. Leaves: Lower leaves are opposite, 2-3 times pinnately divided, with narrow and elongated to lanceolate lobes, entire margins, distinct midrib, dark green color on the upper surface with fine short hairs or nearly hairless, grayish green color on the lower surface with dense short rough hairs, and short petioles. Upper leaves are alternate, pinnately divided, and without petioles.
4. Fruits: Achene is inverted ovate, enclosed in the involucre, with 5-8 short beaks around and a conical beak at the apex.
5. Seeds: Oval-shaped, long brown, with pointed tip at the apex.
【Harm of Thunbergia】
Thunbergia has strong regenerative ability, making it difficult to eradicate. It can survive in disturbed soil and has the ability to absorb nutrients. It can invade various crop fields, such as hemp, corn, soybean, etc. Once it invades a new habitat, it becomes difficult to control.
Thunbergia is the main pathogen of human pollen allergies and a malignant weed that threatens agricultural production. It has strong vitality, wide adaptability, high seed yield, and high water and nutrient consumption.
It competes for space, sunlight, water, and nutrients needed for the survival of crops and other native plants. At the same time, it secretes a special substance that inhibits and repels other plants, leading to their withering and death.
Therefore, the potential harm of Thunbergia is quite serious. It covers and suppresses native plants, causing damage to the original ecosystem and reducing agricultural production. It also depletes water and nutrients in the soil, resulting in significant agricultural losses.
【Control Measures of Thunbergia】
1. Agricultural control: The main measures are manual removal and cutting. The appropriate period for removal can be determined based on the different growth conditions of Thunbergia caused by climate differences in different regions, which is before Thunbergia flowers and bears fruit. However, manual removal requires a lot of labor and is difficult to completely eliminate. Improper handling can also result in the danger of human carrying and spreading.
2. Chemical control: Different herbicides such as glyphosate, paraquat, glufosinate, or fluazifop-p-butyl water solution can be sprayed to kill Thunbergia in non-farmland and farmland in different regions.
3. Biological control: Introducing Thunbergia natural enemies - Thunbergia moth and broadleaf leaf beetle for biological control has a good effect.
4. Plant substitution: Using Chinese wisteria, early maturing grass, etc. for substitution control; eliminating wasteland, planting crops, and being diligent in management. These methods have good control effects on Thunbergia.
