Ash Dieback

Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus

Markus Petz

Institut für Wald-, Umwelt- und Ressourcenpolitik - BOKU

Presentation Outline

Biological background

Health measures

Impact

Society & reactions

Scientific questions

Taxonomy 1982 Lambertella albida

2006 Chalara fraxinea

2009 DNA & morphological testing - related to Hymenoscyphus albidus

2010 Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus due to molecular genetics

Media & Forestry Commission

use Chalara ash dieback

Biological background

EEpidemologyp Fraxinus spp. F. excelsior, F. angustifolia

F. mandschurica – low pathology

cf Dutch Elm

Disease

Ophiostoma spp.

&

Neolithic

elm decline

Biological background

Diagnosis

Fungi: Ascomycota

Fall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sI7hgFZ-4g&feature=youtu.be

Spring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuU8_e0Vw8Q

dead tops wilt lesions black leaves

Biological background

Infected woods

Do not remove any plant material (firewood, sticks, leaves or cuttings) from the woodland

Before leaving the woodland, clean soil, mud, leaves and other plant material from footwear, clothing, dogs, horses, the wheels and tyres of bicycles, baby buggies, carriages and other vehicles, and remove any leaves which are sticking to your car

Before visiting other countryside sites, parks, garden centres, nurseries, thoroughly wash footwear, wheels and tyres in soapy water

Follow the instructions on any signs

Health measures

Ecological implications

“Ash dieback poses a major threat to European biodiversity because of the keystone role of F. excelsior in floodplain forest ecosystems in

Europe.“

Red List Sweden

Butterflies, moss, lichens, land molluscs

Pioneer species on grasslands.

Ancient ash trees – little studied

Carbon sequesterization

Impact

Economic implications

Further spread possible to USA, Med

Nursery quarantines / More local provenances

Useful tree, furniture, handles, floors

Tree removal – if dangerous

Replant, monitor and screening

Impact

Ash is culturally significant

Society & reactions

Citizen science

http://ashtag.org/ http://oadb.tsl.ac.uk/

Society & reactions

Society & Reactions

European research

Society & reactions

4 Working groups: Pathogen Host Silviculture Dissemination & Knoweldge Gaps

What we don‘t know?

?Scientific questions

Further info

European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) dieback – A conservation biology challenge, Pautasso, M - Biological Conservation 2012

www.fraxback.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&Itemid=435

www.euforgen.org/about_euforgen/news/can_genetic_diversity_save_ash_forests.html