Ash dieback and contributing factors of forest weakening in provenance tests in the Sumy region

Valentyna Meshkova,Viacheslav Samoday,Kateryna Davydenko

doi:10.2478/forj-2021-0001

Valentyna Meshkova, Viacheslav Samoday + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2478/forj-2021-0001

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Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the health condition of Fraxinus excelsior L. in provenance tests, with special focus on ash dieback (ADB), but taking into account also other causes of its decline. The research was carried out in the provenance tests of F. excelsior in the forest-steppe part of the Sumy region. ADB symptoms were revealed in all provenance tests. For 2012–2019 the health condition index, ADB incidence and severity increased for all provenances except the Steppe. Collar rot was present in all ash provenances. Fungi species were isolated from the stem parts of ash at all provenances. Hymenoscyphus fraxineus induced longest necrotic lesions following wound inoculation of stems of 7–10-years-old plants of European ash in the forest while inoculation with both Cytospora sp. and Diplodia sp. resulted in smaller necroses. The conclusion from other regions about the coincidence the damage of European ash by ADB and collar rots as well as the coincidence the damage of European ash by collar rot and tree colonization by Hylesinus crenatus (Fabricius, 1787) is supported.

Highlights

In many European countries, deterioration of health condition of Fraxinus excelsior L. stands has been registered (Matsiakh & Kramarets 2014; Goberville et al 2016; Enderle et al 2017; Meshkova & Borysova 2017), which is largely due to the spread of a new invasive pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus
The results of the 2012 assessment showed that the diameter (30.3–32.1 cm), Kraft class (2.3–2.6) and health condition index (1.8–2.4) of individual provenances did not have statistically significant differences (Table 1)
The data obtained do not allow us to draw a conclusion about the different susceptibility of individual ash provenances to the ash dieback (ADB)

Summary

Introduction

In many European countries, deterioration of health condition of Fraxinus excelsior L. stands has been registered (Matsiakh & Kramarets 2014; Goberville et al 2016; Enderle et al 2017; Meshkova & Borysova 2017), which is largely due to the spread of a new invasive pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus Kowalski) Baral, Queloz & Hosoya (Queloz et al 2011; Baral et al 2014; Gross et al 2014) The presence of this fungus in the symptomatic shoots of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) from the Sumy region of Ukraine was confirmed by molecular methods (Davydenko et al 2013b). The occurrence of this pathogen in ash shoots with pronounced symptoms of the disease (necrotic spots on the bark, discoloration) was statistically proven. Andreiev in the Sumy region (Davydenko et al 2013a)

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