SOME BIOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES AND ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE CULTIVATION OF CUP PLANT, SILPHIUM PERFOLIATUM L.

This article describes some peculiarities of the growth and development of the 'Vital' cultivar of Silphium perfoliatum L. and the advantages of its cultivation under the climatic conditions of the Republic of Moldova. It has been found that cup plant, in the second and the following years, has a growing season of 197-234 days, blooms and bears fruit, producing viable seeds. The flowering stage is long and staggered, thus, cup plant is a good source of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects. The aerial phytomass has high economic value as fodder for animals and as substrate for the production of renewable energy