Drivers of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus Infections in the Inner-Alpine Valleys of Northwestern Italy

Abstract

Fraxinus excelsior L. (ash) is a key forest tree species challenged by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (T. Kowalski) Baral, Queloz, Hosoya, the causal agent of ash dieback. The goals of this study were (I) to assess the presence, spatial distribution, and incidence of H. fraxineus in the inner-alpine valleys of northwestern Italy, along with the severity of ash dieback; (II) to model the probability of infection by H. fraxineus based on environmental variables; (III) to reconstruct the direction of provenance of the front of invasion of the pathogen; and (IV) to test whether H. fraxineus has replaced the native relative Hymenoscyphus albidus (Gillet) W. Phillips, a saprobe of ash litter. By combining phytosanitary monitoring and samplings in 20 forest stands, laboratory analyses, and statistical modelling, this study showed that H. fraxineus was present in 65% of stands with an average incidence of 27%, reaching peaks of 80%. Rainfalls were the most relevant drivers of the probability of infection by H. fraxineus, rising up to 80% with the increased precipitation in April and July. Other drivers included elevation, maximal temperatures, latitude, and longitude. The front of invasion likely moved from Italy and/or Switzerland, rather than from France, while the replacement of H. albidus is uncertain.