Breakthrough on ash dieback UK scientists have identified the country’s first ash tree that sh
Breakthrough on ash dieback UK scientists have identified the country’s first ash tree that shows tolerance to ash dieback.Ash dieback is spreading throughout the UK and in one woodland in Norfolk, a great number of trees are infected. The team compared the genetics of trees with different levels of tolerance to ash dieback disease. From there, they developed three genetic markers which enabled them to predict whether or not a tree is likely to be tolerant to the disease. One tree named Betty, they discovered, was predicted to show strong tolerance. The findings raise the possibility of using selective breeding to develop strains of trees that are tolerant to the disease to help safeguard our forests. Read moreImages: Close-up infected ash petioles (leaf stems) - Copyright: John Innes Centre -- source link
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