Kudzu Plant

Pueraria montana

Background & Fun Facts

aggressive growing vine
15 species of kudzu plant
blooms grape scented purple flowers from July-October typically after its 3rd year
roots reach a depth of 12 feet
can weigh 200-300 lbs
leaves similar to that of poison ivy
can grow up to 1 foot per day (60 ft per season)

Origin & History

Native to China, Taiwan, Japan, and India
dried and crushed for Chinese medicinal use starting in 1578
used to make cloth and paper by 1665
Kudzu flour (1700's) imported to the US from Japan and sold in Asian health stores
Arrived to the US in 1876 but was destroyed by law. Arrived back in US by 1883

Taxonomy & Nomenclature

•Kingdom: Plantae

•Phylum: Spermatophyta

•Subphylum: Angiospermae

•Class: Dicotyledonae

•Order: Fabales

•Family: Fabaceae

•Genus: Pueraria- a type of woody wine

•Species: Pueraria montana

•Specific epithet: montana- to come from mountains

•Eukaryotic, multicellular

•Photosynthesis

•Seed producing

•Climbing vines

•Flowering plant

•Kudzu

Characteristics, Habitat, & Food

•Southeastern United States

•Aggressive climbing vine- can take over any vegetation

takes over vacant properties, parking lots, fields
kills surrounding vegetation by smothering and heavily shading

•Well adapted in Alabama- covers over 1 million acres

As far north as New York & Massachusetts
small populations in WA and OR

•Can grow on almost any soil type

clay, dirt, cracks in cement, sand

•Makes its own food through photosynthesis

•Reproduction:

•Asexual vegetative spread (cloning)

•Sexual reproduction dependent on pollinators

Kudzu Ozone Pollution Experiment

“Kudzu (Pueraria montana) invasion doubles emissions of nitric oxide and increases ozone pollution”

Authors: Jonathan E. Hickman, Shiliang Wu, Loretta J. Mickley, and Manuel T. Lerdau
Studied rising ozone levels due to nitric acid emissions from the kudzu plant
- Data collection in 3 sites in Madison county, GA
- Compared NO levels in invaded vs. non-invaded sites
- 4 chemiluminescent NO analyzers per site, 8 per plot

Imaging Results

<-- Mean Nitrogen gas emissions from invaded plots (black) versus non-invaded plots (white)

Mean net Nitrogen mineralization and nitrification for invaded plots (black) versus non-invaded plots (grey) -->

<--Mean inorganic Nitrogen pools from invaded soils (black) versus non-invaded soils (grey)

Number of days with daily maxima 8-h ozone exceeding ppb in area surrounding data collection sites -->

Results

Nitric oxide fluxes 127% higher in invaded sites
- NO emissions 2.19-3.70 ng NO-N cm⁻² h⁻¹ in invaded plots
- NO emissions 1.21–1.26 ng NO-N cm⁻² h⁻¹ in non-invaded plots

N₂O emissions in invaded plots 158% higher
Soil moisture did not differ between invaded and non-invaded plots

Experiment Conclusion & Related Findings

"quantitative link between a biological invasion and ozone formation" (PNAS, Hickman, et al)
"in this extreme scenario, kudzu invasion can overcome some of the air quality benefits of legislative control" (PNAS, Hickman et al)
Kudzu vine is an agricultural and environmental pest
- potential to raise ozone levels to dangerous climate rates and overtake farming plots in AL and PA if not regulated
beneficial findings in Asian health foods and Chinese medicine

References

Hickman, Jonathan E., et al. “Kudzu (Pueraria Montana) Invasion DOUBLES Emissions of Nitric Oxide and Increases Ozone Pollution.” PNAS, National Academy of Sciences, 1 June 2010, www.pnas.org/content/107/22/10115.full.
Loewenstein, Posted by: Nancy J. “The History and Use of Kudzu in the Southeastern United States.” Alabama Cooperative Extension System, 14 Apr. 2020, www.aces.edu/blog/topics/invasive-species/the-history-and-use-of-kudzu-in-the-southeastern-united-states/.

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