ECONOMIC AND BIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF PAULOWNIA (<i>PAULOWNIA TOMENTOSA </i>(THUNB.) STEND.) IN THE SOUTH OF RUSSIA
The paper presents the results of studies that reveal the economic and biological potential of Paulownia tomentosa in the south of Russia. Paulownia is regarded as an ornamental and valuable tree species. the study demonstrated microelemental composition of the bottom ash. It is found out that Paulownia tomentosa has an ability to concentrate large amounts of heavy metal ions - strontium, lead, manganese, arsenic, barium, etc. In addition to heavy metals paulownia plants are able to accumulate some radionuclides: radium - 226, thorium - 232 and potassium- 40. this property indicates the great potential of the species in phytoremediation of contaminated areas. high adaptive capacity of paulownia to the climatic conditions of southern Russia is connected with the peculiarities of accumulation of coffee and chlorogenic acid in the plant. the high content of free chlorogenic acid in the leaves and inflorescences of paulownia may represent an interest as a source for getting preparative form of chlorogenic acid.