Project description
Growing Europe’s tree biosecurity
Climate change is putting Europe’s forests at increased risk from invasive pathogens and infectious diseases. This is taking its toll on the forest-based bioeconomy which can contribute to climate change mitigation. Novel solutions for forest protection and continued biosecurity without the use of chemical methods are paramount. In this context, the EU-funded RESISTREE project aims to fill knowledge gaps regarding the establishment phase of biological invasions. It will focus on key species of European beech. This project will increase our understanding of invasion processes and will also generate groundbreaking findings in improved biosecurity and disease prevention in plants without the use of chemicals.
Objective
Invasive alien pathogens and emerging infectious diseases are an unprecedented threat to the capacity of European forests to supply the growing bioeconomy with renewable biomass, carbon sequestration and other essential ecosystem benefits. To strengthen the biosecurity against these pathogens, new, science-based and socially acceptable forest protection solutions need to be developed. The research in RESISTREE will target central knowledge gaps related to a crucial phase of a biological invasion, the establishment phase. Specifically, RESISTREE will deliver in-depth information about the host phenotypic traits and associated mycobiome that can suppress establishment of the invasive Phytophthora-species (Oomycetes) on one of the key stone species of European forests, the European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). We will test hypotheses about (1) H1 - Endophyte assemblages differ between healthy and Phytophthora-infected beech trees; (2) H2 - Certain endophytic fungi (individual species or groups) limit the growth of Phytophthora-species through different mechanisms; (3) H3 - Lesion formation in beech tissues depends on the quality or quantity of endophytic infections in the tissue; and (4) H4 - Phytophthora root infection influences the growth and morphology of seedlings before visible symptoms (chlorosis,lesions) appear. RESISTREE combines theory and methods from ecology, cell biology, mycology and forest pathology, resulting in an original, multidisciplinary research with high potential for ground-breaking findings. RESISTREE will promote transfer of knowledge between academia and the private sector, resulting in an interdisciplinary project. RESISTREE adheres to priorities of the H2020 program, and follow the European recommendations included in the Directive 2009/128/EC, which calls for non-chemical methods of plant protection.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EFCoordinator
750 07 Uppsala
Sweden