Invasive giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) research group

QuéBERCE is a multi-university group (Université Laval, Université de Montréal, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi and University of Guelph), composed of many professor-researchers, their students and employees, having as an objective research on giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) in Québec and northeastern North America. Giant hogweed is a highly toxic plant: its sap can cause severe skin burns. The group’s researchers are trying to understand 1) how and at what speed is the plant spreading (notably by using genetic tests), 2) what are its population dynamics, 3) which chemical compounds in the sap are the most problematic, and where are the most toxic populations, 4) what are the implications of giant hogweed’s proliferation for public health, 5) how to efficiently prevent its spread. The group’s work is supported by grants from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies, and the Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Alimentation et des Pêcheries du Québec.