FraxForFuture—research on European ash dieback in Germany

Abstract

European ash dieback caused by the alien, invasive ascomycete species Hymenoscyphus fraxineus currently represents, along with its side effects, the greatest threat to common ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ) trees in Europe. The disease is widely distributed in Germany and present in all regions where common ash is growing. In order to study European ash dieback in Germany and to develop management strategies to conserve common ash as a forest tree species, the concerted, interdisciplinary research project FraxForFuture was initiated. FraxForFuture consist of an association of five sub-networks: FraxConnect, FraxMon, FraxGen, FraxPath, and FraxSilva. In total, 27 individual projects conduct research on the epidemiology of the disease, the pathogen and the preservation of ash, including various control, breeding, and silvicultural strategies. The main goals of the FraxForFuture network and the sub-networks as well as essential information about the network of common research plots are provided.

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