Breeding for Tolerance to Ash Dieback Disease

The common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is one of our most important native tree species. It is now under threat from Ash Dieback disease, caused by the invasive fungal pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. The disease is now fully established and has been identified in all counties in Ireland. Fortunately, a proportion of ash trees show natural tolerance to the disease and this tolerance is heritable. In this COFORD Connect Note, the Forest Genetic Resources Working Group of the COFORD Council provide background information on the disease, its impact in Ireland thus far, and a strategy for generating sources of tolerant ash seeds and plants, and for mobilising this material for field planting. 
 
 

• Breeding for Tolerance to Ash Dieback Disease (pdf 2,626Kb)