Abstract
Ash dieback caused by the pathogenic fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus [previously known as H. pseudoalbidus (sexual stage) and Chalara
fraxinea (asexual stage)] is a widespread problem in Europe. Here, we assess crown damage from natural infection and necrosis development
following artificial controlled inoculations on full-sib and half-sib progeny from Danish Fraxinus excelsior clones with contrasting and
well-characterized levels of susceptibility to the disease. The inoculation assay was performed on a total of 123 offspring, and necrosis
development monitored over two years. The offspring from low susceptible mother clones developed smaller necroses when compared to
offspring from susceptible clones. Their crown damage due to natural infections was also significantly less. The correlation coefficient
between average crown damages of mother clones and the average of their progeny was 0.85 (natural infections), while the correlation
between crown damage of mother clones and the average necrosis development in their progeny after controlled inoculation was 0.73. The
correlation between resistance of parent trees and crown damage/necrosis development on their offspring confirms the presence of heritable
resistance and indicates that a bioassay based on controlled inoculations has the potential of becoming a fast and cost-effective tool for
estimation of dieback susceptibility in breeding programmes for resistance in ash trees.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Forest Pathology (Print) |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Pages (from-to) | 379–387 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| ISSN | 1437-4781 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2015 |