Preparing for invasion: novel techniques for early detection of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and discovering resistance traits in host plants.

Projektbeschreibung

Neue Erkennungsmethoden und die Widerstandskraft von Pflanzen in Europas Wäldern

Die Esche (Fraxinus) ist ein bedeutender Hartholzlieferant, der häufig in Wäldern, Parkanlagen und Alleen auf der Nordhalbkugel zu finden ist. Doch sie ist auch gefährdet und wird vom Asiatischen Eschenprachtkäfer (Agrilus planipennis) befallen. Dieses nicht heimische Insekt lässt Bäume in Osteuropa absterben und könnte – wie bereits in den Vereinigten Staaten geschehen – Millionen Eschen töten. Um eine Ausbreitung des Käfers nach Westeuropa zu verhindern, besteht dringender Handlungsbedarf. Das EU-finanzierte Projekt EMERALD will innovativ und disziplinübergreifend forschen und dazu neue Techniken aus Molekularbiologie, analytischer Chemie und anderen Bereichen kombinieren. Damit sollen bestimmte Widerstandseigenschaften von Eschen gefunden und Früherkennungsmethoden formuliert werden, um die Invasion des Asiatischen Eschenprachtkäfers in die Wälder Europas zu verlangsamen oder sogar ganz aufzuhalten.

Ziel

Ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in Europe are threatened by two alien invasive organisms; a deadly fungal pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus that has been causing a slow, steady decline in Europe’s ash population, and emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis), a buprestid beetle that is quickly killing trees in eastern Europe, and moving west. There are fears that EAB will follow the same path as it did recently in USA – killing millions of ash trees, unless active research is undertaken to prevent the spread of EAB and protect the ash resource. EMERALD is a multidisciplinary and innovative project that approaches this invasion through the combination of molecular biology, analytical chemistry, sensor technology, insect ecology, and tree physiology to understand host-pest interactions and improve the options for integrated pest management in European forests. In this project, naïve and a co-evolved ash species will be investigated to understand their attractive volatile chemistry and influence on EAB’s behaviour and host preference (antixenosis), differences in host chemical defenses that either promote or deter EAB performance (antibiosis), and the confounding effect of H. fraxineus in relation to both interactions. Novel early detection tools will be developed including new lure traps and molecular assays based on optimized environmental DNA protocols of samples filtered from stem flow and canopy foliage, and portable loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to achieve point-of-use and real-time detection of EAB. The training-through-research will diversify and expand the skillset of the applicant, while also providing reciprocal teaching and new insights for the host unit. The results of this project will have tremendous value for European stakeholders and the general public for those concerned with saving the economically and ecological valuable ash in urban and rural forested environments by developing an arsenal of tools to manage the impending EAB invasion.