Previous Article in Journal
Leaf Stoichiometric Characteristics of Three Dominant Plant Species in the Water–Land Ecotone
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

The Mechanisms of Sphagneticola trilobata Invasion as One of the Most Aggressive Invasive Plant Species

Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki 761-1795, Kagawa, Japan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Diversity 2025, 17(10), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17100698
Submission received: 26 August 2025 / Revised: 2 October 2025 / Accepted: 3 October 2025 / Published: 6 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology, Distribution, Impacts, and Management of Invasive Plants)

Abstract

Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski has been introduced to many countries due to its ornamental and economic value. However, it has been listed in the world’s 100 worst alien invasive species due to its invasive nature. This species easily escapes cultivation and forms dense ground covers. It reproduces asexually through ramet formation from stem fragments. It also produces a large number of viable seeds that establish extensive seed banks. The movement of stem fragments and the dispersal of seeds, coupled with human activity, contribute to its short- and long-distance distribution. S. trilobata grows rapidly due to its high nutrient absorption and photosynthetic abilities. It exhibits high genetic and epigenetic variation. It can adapt to the different habitats and tolerate various adverse environmental conditions, including cold and high temperatures, low and high light irradiation, low nutrient levels, waterlogging, drought, salinity and global warming. S. trilobata has powerful defense systems against herbivory and pathogen infection. These systems activate the jasmonic acid signaling pathway, producing several defensive compounds. This species may also acquire more resources through allelopathy, which suppresses the germination and growth of neighboring plants. These life history traits and defensive abilities likely contribute to its invasive nature. This is the first review to focus on the mechanisms of its invasiveness in terms of growth, and reproduction, as well as its ability to adapt to different environmental conditions and defend itself.
Keywords: adaptation; allelopathy; defensive compound; herbivory; pathogen; reproduction; stress condition; tolerance adaptation; allelopathy; defensive compound; herbivory; pathogen; reproduction; stress condition; tolerance

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Kato-Noguchi, H.; Kato, M. The Mechanisms of Sphagneticola trilobata Invasion as One of the Most Aggressive Invasive Plant Species. Diversity 2025, 17, 698. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17100698

AMA Style

Kato-Noguchi H, Kato M. The Mechanisms of Sphagneticola trilobata Invasion as One of the Most Aggressive Invasive Plant Species. Diversity. 2025; 17(10):698. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17100698

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kato-Noguchi, Hisashi, and Midori Kato. 2025. "The Mechanisms of Sphagneticola trilobata Invasion as One of the Most Aggressive Invasive Plant Species" Diversity 17, no. 10: 698. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17100698

APA Style

Kato-Noguchi, H., & Kato, M. (2025). The Mechanisms of Sphagneticola trilobata Invasion as One of the Most Aggressive Invasive Plant Species. Diversity, 17(10), 698. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17100698

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.
Back to TopTop