Allergy ragweed is spreading strongly in Europe

Allergy-causing ragweed thrives particularly well in Europe

05/03/2014

The mugwort ragweed will spread more widely in Europe than previously thought. This was the result of a study by the Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (BiK-F) and Goethe University Frankfurt. This is especially bad news for allergy sufferers, as the pollen of the ragweed belong to the strongest allergy triggers. In addition, the plant is one of the late bloomers and releases their pollen from late summer to fall or even December. For allergy sufferers, the suffering period is considerably extended.

Ragweed benefits from climate change
„Like many invasive species, ragweed ragweed benefits from climate change. It has probably also changed evolutionarily“, reports Oliver Tackenberg from the Goethe University Frankfurt, who carried out the project in cooperation with the BiK-F. The European variant of ragweed was developed further and more vital than in America, the country of origin of the plant. Not only are the seeds significantly larger, their germination rate is 92 percent, almost twice as high as in American populations. In addition, the European young plants had a more pronounced frost tolerance.

One reason for the vitality of ragweed in Europe could be that their natural enemies are absent in this country. „Thus, for example, the production of chemical antibodies is no longer necessary. The released resources can be put into the propagation and lead in the form of larger seeds to faster growth and increased competitiveness“, explains Tackenberg. „However, the reason why the European ragweed ragweed populations seem to be more competitive can only be explained beyond doubt by further investigations.“

The spread of ragweed could cost healthcare up to € 1.19 billion a year
The researchers urgently call for a national strategy to stop the further spread of the plant, which is among the 100 most problematic invasive species. „Therefore, we have to become active as soon as possible. So far, only selective measures against mugwort ragweed are taken“, emphasizes the first author of the study, Marion Leiblein-Wild of BiK-F. „Each state handles the topic differently. Especially with regard to the damage to health, we need a concerted, national control strategy, as it exists, for example, in Switzerland. There, not only farmers or gardeners are required by law to report occurrences of ambrosia, but every single citizen. In our country, the government is still building on voluntary help, although experts are already predicting that ambrosia allergies will incur additional healthcare costs of up to € 1.19 billion a year.“ (Ag)