Modification variability of Echium vulgare L. in ecotopes of the Central Caucasus

Blueweed (Echium vulgare L.) is a perspective offic- inal and melliferous plant. Due to not sufficient research of ecological and biological features of the species, the aim of the study was to assess the level of modification variability of E. vulgare in ecotopes of the Central Cau- casus Mountains. The research objectives were to study phytocenotic confinedness, the analysis of the status of populations of E. vulgare on demographic and biometric parameters, evaluation of the biochemical variability for the total content of alkaloids. The studies were conduct- ed in 2017-2018 in natural phytocenoses and technogenic ecotopes on the territory of the Kabardino- Balkar Republic and the Republic of North Ossetia- Alania. Total projective cover of the grass stand, its av- erage height, the number, density of individuals and biometric parameters of generative sprouts of E. vulgare were determined at the registration sites. General con- tent of alkaloids was determined by weight method, the content of heavy metals in the soil and plants on the atomic absorption spectrophotometer...