Cryogenic methods used to biodiversity conservation of common ash and three elm species in the...

Cryogenic methods used to biodiversity conservation of common ash and three elm species

in the Kostrzyca Forest Gene Bank

Paulina Hrydziuszko

Małgorzata PałuckaCzesław Kozioł

18th Cold Hardiness Seminar in PolandInstitute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Kórnik 14-15 May 2013

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"Conservation of biodiversity, through the conservation of ex situ common ash and three elm species in Lower Silesia in Natura 2000 areas"

Why did we choose ash and elm trees to protect

biodiversity?

Ash dieback in Europe.

Elms dieback in Europe.

Examples of ash and elm protection in Poland.

Assumptions of our project.

Expected results.

18th Cold Hardiness18th Cold Hardiness Seminar Poland Seminar Poland

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The Natura 2000 ares

Forest Districts with habitats of elms

Nature reserves of elms and ashes

Forest Districts with habitats of common ash

Range of the project covers an area

of Lower Silesia. Species covered by the project

have their positions on the surface protected areas

(Natura 2000 sites, nature reserves).

The location of common ash and three elm species in Lower Silesia in Natura 2000 areas.

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"Conservation of biodiversity, through the conservation of ex situ common ash and three elm species in Lower Silesia in Natura 2000 areas"

Dramatically rapid rate of extinction of the common ash from the 90’s of the XX th century and elms from the 20's and then in the 70's of XXth century, caused high concern to the survival of these species in many European countries.

The reasons of ash and elm trees dying were carefully diagnosed. In accordance to changes in the natural environment, such as river valleys conversion, riparian drainage, flood barriers constructions preventing flooding of the natural habitats, but the main cause are fungal pathogens.

Loss of biodiversity of elm-ash habitats was an inspiration for the Kostrzyca Forest Gene Bank to protect these species from extinction by implementation of the project entitled "Conservation of biodiversity, through the conservation of ex situ common ash and three elm species in Lower Silesia in Natura 2000 areas".

The main objective of the project is ex situ conservation of three species of elm and common ash through the cryogenic storage of seeds and shoots with dormant buds. The first part of the project will cover the terrain of Lower Silesia.


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Ash dieback in Europe - short history

1992 - first signs of severe dieback of ash in north-eastern Poland (Stocki 2001, Sierota et al. 1993)

After 1992 - the disease has been observed in other parts of Poland (Kowalski 2001, Przybył 2002) over an area of 10,000 hectares (Gil et al. 2006)

Ash dieback in Europe has been observed in Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Switzerland

In 2012, the first signs of dieback are found in the British Isles (Coghlan 2012)

The speed of disease spreading according to Euforgen is 20-30 km per year (Euforgen, News, 14.12.2012).


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Austria - symptoms of F.excelsior L., F.angustifolia Vahl., F.ornus L. disease

Slovenia, Romania, Czech Republic, Germany - symptoms of F.excelsior L.,

F. angustifolia Vahl. disease [Schumacher et al. 2007, Jankovsky,

Holdenrieder 2009]

Estonia - symptoms of F.excelsior L. F.mandshurica Rupr., F.nigra,

F. pennsylvanica and F. americana L.

By the end of 2012, there was no ash dieback caused by Chalara fraxinea

on any other continent outside Europe.

Ash dieback in Europe - short history


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Subsequent years

Changes in forest area of common ash as the dominant species [ha] in the years 2001-2011 based on data from the General Directorate of State Forests in Poland


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Discoloration of wood in the form of sectors and

discoloration in the shape of the letter "T"

Symptoms of ash dieback

Cortical necrosis, wood cancers,

local hypertrophy

The fruiting bodies of the pathogen Hymenoscyphus

pseudoalbidus (anamorphic stage-Chalara fraxinea

(Kowalski 2006)

Wilting, discoloration and local or full

necrosis of leaves and their premature

precipitation

Dieback of whole branches or their peaks, irregular leaves of crown


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Symptoms of ash dieback


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Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus-Teleomorph stage of the pathogen. Pathogen's fruiting bodies form (VII-IX) at last year's ash leaf nerves, produce spores spread by wind. The spores infect the tree, starting the process of dying.

Chalafa fraxineaChalafa fraxinea--Pathogen's vegetative stage (anamorphic). Grows on infected fallen leaves. It produces a form of survival of the

pathogen, which in the summer of next year will produce fruiting bodies Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus.


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Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidusHymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus


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Genetic resources of Fraxinus excelsior L. in the Kostrzyca Forest Gene Bank

Genetic resources of Fraxinus excelsior L. in the Kostrzyca Forest Gene Bank (01.03.2013 r.)

Species Forest District Type and number of the seed base Mass [kg] Conditions of

storage

Fraxinus excelsior L.

Szczecinek

plus tree 3143 0,5600 -10°C

plus tree 3135 0,7508 -10°C

plus tree 3139 0,1578 -10°C

plus tree 4784 0,6662 -10°CSzczecinek plus seed stand

MP/2/31570/05 2,3100 -10°C

Mircze

plus seed stand MP/2/31254/05

8,1360 -10°C

OpoleSeed stand

MP/1/5343/05 9,8900 -196°C

Summary 22,4708


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DUTCH ELM DISEASE (DED)

Dutch elm disease (DED) is caused by a member of the sac fungi

(Ascomycota) affecting elm trees and is spread by the elm bark beetle.

Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease has been

accidentally introduced into America and Europe, where it has devastated native

populations of elms, which had not had the opportunity to evolve resistance to

the disease.

The factors impacts of DED are ascomycete microfungi. Three species are now

recognized:

Ophiostoma ulmi, which afflicted Europe in 1910, reaching to North America by imported wood in

1928,

Ophiostoma himal-ulmi, a species endemic to the western Himalaya,

Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, an extremely virulent species which has been first described in Europe and

North America in the 1940s and which devastated elms in both areas since the late 1960s.


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Symptoms of Dutch Elm Disease

DED symptoms are the result of the infection in the vascular system of the tree (system conducting water).

Infection causes clogging of vascular tissues and obstructing regular flow of water to the crown of the tree.

Symptoms are visible on the leaves, branches and stems. Final outcome of the disease is the death of the whole tree.

Symptoms are often observed in early summer, but they may be present at any time of the growing season.

Early symptoms - still green but wilting leaves

Summer - brown, wilted leaves

Dieback of tree


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Changes in elm forest area

Unfortunately, the Kostrzyca Forest Gene Bank does not have sufficient data on changes in the area occupied by different species of elms. In the State Forests National Forest Holding

elms are treated only as a admixed species, not as the main tree species.


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Conservation of the ash and elms in Poland

Protection recommendations (Chief Inspector for Environmental Protection) on the type of habitat: Riparian forests of oak and elm-ash (Code habitats 91F0) after monitoring research in the years

2009-2011 (monitoring of species and habitats with particular emphasis on Special Areas of Conservation Nature 2000)

Improving the hydrological regime of riparian forests (e.g. reconstruction

of levees system-restore the effect of inundation)

Breeding activities, such as artificial replenishment of species which natural

renewing is difficult (e.g. oaks along the Bug River)

Proposed modification procedure in stands areas where ash dominates

and dieback is observed


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Conservation of the ash and elms in Poland

To maintain habitat 91F0 it is necessary to:

Limit removal of ash trees, even at the cost of leaving some of them to the

natural decay of the forest,

Extend the species composition in habitats

In areas where riparian forests have uniform-age oaks as dominant species,

it is suggested to exclude some of them from forest management

…… What about the harvest of the seed?What about the harvest of the seed?......


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Assumptions for the project which will be implemented inAssumptions for the project which will be implemented in the the KostrzycaKostrzyca FGB FGB

1. Verification of the number of individuals and their health at selected positions.

2. Collection of seeds and stems with buds ash resting for cryogenic storage.

3. Cryotherapy of common ash seeds to inactivate the pathogen.

4. Thermotherapy of common ash seeds to inactivate the pathogen.

5. Dissemination of the project results in the form of publications and brochures.

6. DNA isolation to prepare DNA data bank for the future

molecular research.


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The project will be co-financed by the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Wroclaw

Duration of the project covers the period: 2013 - 2016

Assumptions for the project which will be implemented in the Kostrzyca Forest Gene Bank


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The Kostrzyca Forest Gene BankMiłków 300 58-535 Miłków75 7131048lbg@ lbg.lasy.gov.pl

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

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