飞机草(Chromolaena odorata)是世界公认的多年生入侵性杂草, 原产于中、南美洲, 现已扩散至非洲、亚洲、大洋洲和西太平洋群岛的大部分热带及亚热带地区, 严重威胁着入侵地本地植物的生长、生物多样性和生态安全。由于其蔓延速度快, 及其对农、林、牧业等的巨大危害, 引起了社会各界的广泛关注。揭示飞机草的入侵机制, 对于遏制其扩散速度, 最终消除或降低其危害, 恢复生态系统平衡, 具有十分重要的现实意义和科学价值。该文介绍了飞机草的生物学特性、地理分布、入侵后果及防治措施等。鉴于目前对飞机草的入侵路线和入侵机制还没有全面系统的认识, 该文重点介绍了其在世界范围内的传播路线及其成功入侵机制, 旨在为飞机草的防治工作提供科学依据。最后提出有关飞机草生理生态学和分子生物学方面的一些展望, 并强调对其适应性进化遗传基础的研究可能为探讨其成功的入侵机制带来新突破。
Chromolaena odorata, native to Central and South America, is a worldwide perennial invasive alien weed. It has spread into most of the humid tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Oceania and Micronesia. Moreover, C. odorata continues to spread rapidly, posing a serious threat to crops, forestry, indigenous vegetation and biodiversity conservation. It has captured extensive attention because of its serious impacts on environment and socioeconomic development. In order to restrict its range expansion and eliminate its adverse impacts, it is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms underlying successful invasion of C. odorata, for which introduction status and invasion routes should be known. We reviewed the research on this weed, including its biological characteristics, geographic distribution, invasion consequences and control, especially its introductions, invasion routes throughout the world and mechanisms of successful invasion. We presented prospects for research on the ecophysiology and molecular biology of C. odorata, emphasizing that study of the genetic basis of adaptive evolution may facilitate elucidating mechanisms underlying its successful invasion.