New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Analysis estimates mortality from fungal infections of ash trees

Date:
December 5, 2018
Source:
Wiley
Summary:
A recent analysis of surveys of ash dieback across Europe reveals mortality rates as high as 85 percent in plantations and 70 percent in woodlands.
Share:
FULL STORY

The ash dieback epidemic, caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, has swept across Europe over the past 20 years and caused widespread damage and death in ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior) populations. A recent analysis of surveys of ash dieback across Europe, published in Plants, People, Planet, reveals mortality rates as high as 85 percent in plantations and 70 percent in woodlands.

Such loss poses challenges to public safety, productivity of commercial forestry, green spaces and human wellbeing, and ecosystem services and carbon sequestration. Accurately estimating the proportion of ash trees likely to die from the disease is critical for managing these challenges.

"Although the numbers seem grim, the percentage of trees that are still alive is encouraging from a long-term perspective," said senior author Prof. Richard J.A. Buggs, of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and Queen Mary University of London. "If this survival is due to heritable resistance, then conservation policies targeting breeding programs or natural selection may allow ash populations to flourish once again."


Story Source:

Materials provided by Wiley. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Tim L. R. Coker, Jiří Rozsypálek, Anne Edwards, Tony P. Harwood, Louise Butfoy, Richard J. A. Buggs. Estimating mortality rates of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) under the ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) epidemic. Plants, People, Planet, 2019; 1 (1): 48 DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.11

Cite This Page:

Wiley. "Analysis estimates mortality from fungal infections of ash trees." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 December 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181205093651.htm>.
Wiley. (2018, December 5). Analysis estimates mortality from fungal infections of ash trees. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 2, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181205093651.htm
Wiley. "Analysis estimates mortality from fungal infections of ash trees." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181205093651.htm (accessed November 2, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES