Retaining the Ashes: The potential for ash populations to be restored following the dieback epidemic

Lead Research Organisation: University of Warwick
Department Name: School of Life Sciences

Abstract

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Technical Summary

Ash dieback, caused by the invasive fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (Hf), has been a destructive disease of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) since 1992 and was first seen in the UK in 2012. While most trees are very susceptible to this alien pathogen, a small minority are less diseased. As ash in Europe was not previously exposed to Hf, this project aims to understand the evolutionary origin of this polymorphism in terms of the forces of natural selection which act on dieback-susceptibility.

We have assembled 328 diverse ash lines from the UK, including many which have low dieback-susceptibility even at heavily affected sites. In Objective 1, we will estimate the contributions of resistance and disease escape to low susceptibility in this collection in replicated field trials exposed to natural infection. We will use controlled inoculation in lab and greenhouse experiments to investigate components of resistance and assess the divergence of resistance in the UK from that in continental Europe.

In a limited sample of trees from Denmark, dieback-susceptibility was correlated with levels of iridoid glycosides in uninfected leaves. In Objective 2, we will combine untargeted metabolite analysis by LC-QToF-MS with transcriptome analysis to survey a very wide range of secondary metabolites (SM), both constitutive and induced on infection, and identify SM and biosynthetic pathways that discriminate responses of resistant and susceptible ash to Hf. We will then test the association between SM and responses to Hf across our panel of ash lines.

Diverse SM, including iridoid glycosides, reduce attack by invertebrate herbivores by acting as repellants, anti-feedants or toxins. In Objective 3, we will test the hypothesis that certain SM mediate a trade-off between responses of ash to dieback and to certain insects, by testing if dieback-resistance and levels of key SM in ash clones are correlated, positively or negatively, with insect feeding, growth and reproduction.

Planned Impact

Ash dieback has caused severe damage to European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) since it was first observed in north-eastern Europe in 1992. It was first seen in the UK in 2012 but may have been present here since c.2000. Although the fungus kills juvenile shoots quickly, disease progress in mature trees is slow but relentless, causing death in 5-10 years. In the most severely affected counties of the UK, almost all trees are infected and some ashwoods have been devastated. It is striking, however, that a minority of ash trees are much less diseased than others of the same size and age nearby.

Ash is a keystone species in the natural environment which supports diverse wildlife, a source of high-quality timber for furniture, tools and sporting goods and an important tree for landscaping and shade in urban and rural settings including residential areas, car parks and industrial estates. Perhaps the most significant benefit of ash is for ecosystem services, including such as flood prevention by preventing run-off of rainwater from fields, soil erosion and collapse of river and canal banks.

We have assembled a panel of 328 ash genotypes, known as JENNIFER, for use in this project and as a resource for future research. An important impact of this project is that JENNIFER contains a substantial number of lines with strong partial resistance to dieback. Seed from trees such as these has the potential to re-establish ash for all the purposes mentioned above, although further selection will be needed to identify plants with good form for timber production. A previous project discovered genetic markers for resistance among trees from Denmark but they have limited power to predict resistance in ash from the UK. Moreover, reliance on a few markers should be avoided in plant breeding, to minimise the risk of pleiotropy or linkage drag with undesirable traits. Further understanding of the pathology, diversity and ecology of ash dieback in the UK is therefore required.

In a small sample of the Danish study population, certain secondary metabolites (SM), assigned as iridoid glycosides (IG), were associated with susceptibility to dieback. IG are well-known as compounds which deter insect herbivory in diverse plants but it is not yet known why low IG levels are associated with resistance to dieback. It is thus possible that if selection for dieback-resistance were to reduce levels of IG, susceptibility to herbivores such as insects could be enhanced, so replacing one destructive agent by another and thwarting attempts to restore ash populations. An insect of special concern is another invasive alien species, the emerald ash borer, which has been extremely destructive in the USA, Canada and Russia. Fraxinus species contain many diverse SM, however, so it may be possible to select for (or against) different metabolites which confer resistance (or susceptibility) to dieback and to herbivores, or even for metabolites which have positive effects on both types of bio-antagonist. Exciting advances in technology for identifying low levels of metabolites mean it will soon be possible to select F.excelsior breeding stock with a high probability of good resistance to dieback and to herbivores, based on sensing of multiple odours.

The project will also contribute essential information for informed selection and replanting of ash with lower susceptibility to dieback, for the benefit of public bodies, charities and forestry companies concerned with tree-planting. It will reveal the diversity of dieback-resistance in ash from the UK and indicate the risk of trade-offs between dieback-resistance and deterrence of herbivores mediated by secondary metabolites. In particular, it will help greatly to predict the likely damage by emerald ash borer, should that highly destructive beetle ever become established in the UK. It will also identify traits which can be selected in order to promote disease escape.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description Ash dieback is an enormous problem for the UK, as ash makes up 5.5% of British woodlands. It is the third most abundant tree species in the UK with numbers exceeding 100 million trees. Ash dieback could be devastating to the British landscape and it is estimated it could cost the UK economy up to £15 billion. Currently there is no treatment for the disease so it is vital we understand all the possible pathways to developing resistance.
Our work identified small molecules in ash leaves, known scientifically as secoiridoid glycosides. We identified 27 different secoiridoid glycosides and within these specific compounds that could potentially be used as biomarkers for tolerance or susceptible to ash dieback, as well as incentivise research into possible resistance mechanisms.
Using a much larger panel of UK trees, we have used untargetted metabolomics to identify discriminatory compounds that differ between tolerant and susceptible ash trees in the wider environment and to investigate the metabolic reconfiguration during fungal infection. ash dieback resistance. We believe we have developed a mas spec based MRM test but due to covid impacted delays and access issues this cannot be tested until the mid-summer 2022 when new leaf growth is fully expanded. If successful this could easily be deployed as a rapid, and relatively inexpensive screen of UK germplasm of trees that may be more tolerant to enhance breeding efforts for ash dieback resistant trees.
However caution must be taken as some discriminate compounds are secoiridoid glycosides which are also known to be involved in antifeeding defences against herbivorous insect pests. By selecting trees with altered levels of these compounds which may prevail in ADB tolerant trees, we must ensure that we do not run the risk of reducing the UK's ash trees' natural defence against insect herbivory such as emerald ash borer which is rampant in the USA.
Exploitation Route Developing a mass spectrometer based ash sapling screening programme.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Environment

Leisure Activities

including Sports

Recreation and Tourism

URL https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/chemical_clues_in/
 
Description Provided evidence to DEFRA Evidence meeting to access impact of Ashdiekack and Emerald Ash Borer on UK ash Research broadcast in farming today and Midlands Regional News leading to public contacting us with respect to their trees, both possibly resistant trees and concerns about infected trees.
First Year Of Impact 2019
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Environment
Impact Types Societal

Policy & public services

 
Description DEFRA Ash Dieback and Emerald Ash Borer Evidence meeting
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
Impact Presented some of the limited fundamental research, and contributed to the discussion and policy document that helps underpin the evidence base for management of ash dieback, and the future of UK ash in the face of the emerging threat of emerald ash borer to the UK (and Europe).
 
Title Developing a Multile Reaction Monitoring mass spec method based on leaf material to discriminate ashdiebacl tolerant ash trees from susceptible trees 
Description Based o untargetted mass spectrometry approaches profiling ash trees selected as resistant or susceptible to ash dieback we have developed a rapid MRM monitoring method based on ~30 discriminant metabolites to identify tolerant ash trees for breeding purposes. Method completed October 2021 but need to test o nenvironmental samples post-budding summer of 2022. 
Type Of Material Biological samples 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact Too early to test. Need leaf samples form the wider environment to test. Aim to do this in 2022 resource pending. Signigicant impact ofCovid prevented environmental sampling 2021. 
 
Description Collaboration with future trees trust to bet environmental ash samples for testing metabolomics assay for resitant and susceptible ash 
Organisation Future Trees Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution WE established links to Jo Clark of Future Trees trust to source ash leaf material for the 2023 growing season.
Collaborator Contribution Jo Clark has indicated that she will help source the material and provide access to sampling sites in May/June 2023
Impact No sampling yet to date
Start Year 2022
 
Description Deciphering priming of defence by neighbouring trees: A case study on ash dieback disease 
Organisation University of Birmingham
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We have joined expertise with Dr Estrella Lua Diez and Dr Andrea Harper (York) to look at a novel concept of unravelling how neighbouring trees can influence defence responses in the context of ash and the fungal pathogen that causes ash dieback.
Collaborator Contribution Intellectual - developing new concepts wrt how trees influence each others immune systems in a species specific manner.
Impact Failed NERC:Research Grant bid; Deciphering priming of defence by neighbouring trees: A case study on ash dieback disease led by Dr Estrella Luna Diez:University of Birmingham (NE/X011860/1). Planning to rework.
Start Year 2022
 
Description Defra Ashdieback Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Defra organised an ash dieback workshop in September 2022 to bring together researchers working on different aspects of ash dieback.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Interview for regional news 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Broadcast our work on ash dieback to Midlands Today 19th november 2020
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Interviewed for BBC Framing today podcast 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Work on ash dieback presented on BBC Farming today in December 2020. Delivered by PDRA Dr John sidda
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Invited speaker at plant disease resistance workshop North West Agricultural and Forestry University, Yangling, China 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact As part of an international workshop on plant disease resistance presented work on chloroplast immunity and methodology developed in the ash dieback project for untargetted metabolite profiling.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Kenilworth Agricultural Show 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Set up displays and shows in the Education Tent at the Kenilworth Show, looking at public perception of plant pathogens, how disease develops and how we are using state-of-the-art techniques to mitigate this. Used ash dieback as an exemplar which the public could readily engage and introduced the concept of mass spectrometry to understand how we could look at small molecules that might be causal to disease prevention or progression.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019