Zubtsova I. Population analysis of medicinal plants in the floodplains of the rivers of the Krolevets-Glukhiv Geobotanical Region

The thesis is devoted to the complex study of populations of nine species of medicinal plants growing in the floodplains of the rivers of the Krolevets-Glukhiv geobotanical region: Althaea officinalis L., Arctium lappa L., Сentaurium erythrаea Rafn., Leonurus villosus Desf. ex D’Urv, Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall., Polygonum aviculare L., Potentilla erecta (L.) Raeusch., Sanguisorba officinalis L., Saponaria officinalis L. The research of 2014–2019 allowed to establish population field area and density, to study the ontogenetic, size and vital structure of populations of the studied species. It was found that they mostly have incomplete ontogenetic spectra and belong to the invasive and normal types, as well as to the «young» and «maturing». It was shown that in the composition of each of the studied populations there were plant forms with specific features of habit and architecture. The severity of morphological variability and plasticity was assessed. It was proved that the main factors of manifestation in plants and populations of specific dimensional and morpho-structural features were edaphic conditions, characteristics of phytocenotic environment, degree and nature of anthropogenic pressure. It was found that Arctium lappa and Althaea officinalis belonged to the species with the highest degree of plant morphointegration but Polygonum aviculare was characterized by the lowest degree of morphointegration. The diversity index of the population size structure in the region generally varied from 16,0 to 48,0%. The vitality structure and qualitative types of populations were clarified. The system of interrelations and mutual influences shown in structure of populations of model kinds of medicinal plants was presented. According to the results of the research, proposals were developed to ensure the protection and rational, inexhaustible use of phytodiversity and stocks of medicinal plants in the region.