Progress in studies on the exotic invasive plant alligator weed Alternanthera philoxeroides(Mart.) Griseb

Alligator weed,Alternanthera philoxeroides(Mart.) Griseb.has been declared as one of the worst invasive weeds in China.Recent progress in the studies on the exotic plant alligator weed was(reviewed) including the following aspects,such as its reproductive characteristics,eco-physiological strategies,interactions among alligator weed and its new neighbors,the genetic diversity and control strategies.In the present paper,the coming tendency about alligator weed has been discussed according to recent studies and unsolved vague points in this field.Based on recent studies,the reproductive characteristic of alligator weed would be probably the key factor that affected the invasions.Analysis also showed that alligator weed adapted well to different environments,and therefore it was possible that interactions of many aspects decided whether alligator weed could invade other habitats successfully or not.