Realising Ash’s Potential ( RAP)

The proposal has three major objectives:

1. To characterise the genetic diversity and genetic structure in populations of Fraxinus on a regional and European scale by conventional and molecular means and to use this data to provide guidelines for using genetic resources of Fraxinus in practical forestry and in tree improvement programmes. The data will also assist in Certification of stocks and in decision making concerning the conservation of Fraxinus genetic resources.
2. To provide technical methods to accelerate the utilisation of scarce selections by vegetative propagation and induced flowering.
3. To identify and use the most effective means of exploiting and deploying the genetic potential of Fraxinus by continuous communication of progress and results with all potential end users of the genetic resource.

The scientific and technological objectives are as follows:

1. Characterise the extent of the genetic diversity and potential of Fraxinus material from the natural European range. We aim to provide basal reference data on the performance of Fraxinus resources at the European level by conventional provenance testing and by applying molecular markers that are already develope specifically for Fraxinus.
2. Record and evaluate the performance of existing provenance trials in various EU States;

Partner 2: trial established in 1990, 49 provenances

Partner 3: trial established in 1982, 52 provenances

Partner 12: trial established in 1995, 5 provenances (associated contractor has 50 provenances established in 1987)

Partner 4: trial established in 1992, 14 regional provenances

Partner 5: trial established in 1993, 22 provenances

In addition, data from over 30 families in progeny trials will be evaluated by partner 11 and over 100 families by partner 2.

A recording scheme will be agreed, so results can be usefully compared. Publish the results for these existing trials. Identify promising provenances and individuals; make selections and provisional recommendations on provenance potentials.

1. Establish a Europe wide provenance/ progeny trial using shared material from the extensive natural range. Representative material will be from Partners 2,3,4,5 and 12 to complete and refine the earlier work on provenance and progeny testing. Trials will be established by partners 2,3,4,5,11 and 12, consisting of a common core of 10 provenances and completed with European provenances of interest to each partner.
2. Evaluate how the genetic potential of Fraxinus is controlled and regulated by investigating the characteristics of gene flow and of interspecific hybridisation using molecular markers.
3. Provide a genotype -independent set of conditions and treatments which facilitates the vegetative propagation of selected genotypes of Fraxinus by improving of the tested methods for micropropagation, rooting and rejuvenation and for flower induction and seed formation.
4. Determine the biochemical events and identify useful biochemical markers, which characterise the permissive physiological states related to rooting, rejuvenation and resistances to propagation stress in shoot cultures of Fraxinus.
5. In collaboration with SMEs ( typically, commercial propagators) develop pilot scale production of high quality plants from selected plus trees and progeny from tested trees, including their effective mycorrhization. To develop low-cost systems of propagation which combines micropropagation and using cuttings from micropropagated plants for providing plants of scarce genetic resources on a larger scale, at economic prices for important field trials and for more general deployment.
6. Identify the factors which influence the decisions of farmers / foresters and market forces in relation to the uptake of improved genetic material. Establish a Consultation Panel of end users and interest groups to inform them at each stage and incorporate their views. We aim to identify the needs and expectations of end users and thus improve the marketing situation among potential clients for the new materials and technology using methods of social science.
7. We aim to increase the confidence and awareness of users of ash genetic resources by attempting to integrate molecular data on provenance characteristics with performance data so as to arrive at a comprehensive and effective approach to material Certification.

Introduction

The overall methodology to achieve the stated objectives is to divide the work into three workpackages (WP) as follows: (Summary in Fig 1)

1. Assays of Biodiversity
2. Increasing efficiency in propagating selected material
3. Adoption and Utilisation strategies : Novel approaches to ensure the utilisation of improved genetic stocks by farmers/foresters.

Assays of Biodiversity

This has five main activities.

• Establishment of a European provenance / progeny trial

A new provenance trial, with representative germplasm from the European range of Fraxinus including some from eastern European countries will be established in six countries.

• Evaluation of existing provenance/ progeny trials

We will examine the growth performance of existing provenance trials of Fraxinus excelsior in five countries.

• Genetic diversity

Molecular markers will be used to characterise the extent and range of genetic diversity in ash genetic resources and data will be combined with morphological data from task 1.2 .

• Gene flow studies

Specific stands will be selected to examine the general distribution of genetic variation in Fraxinus excelsior and F. angustifolia. The relationships among individuals in these local populations will be examined to provide estimates of gene flow.

• Hybridisation studies

We will quantify the extent of of natural hybridisation of Fraxinus excelsior and F. angustifolia. by using six RAPD markers and chloroplast markers.

Increasing efficiency in propagating selected material

There are four main activities.

• Cuttings / rejuvenation

Selected material of Fraxinus will be collected from provenance and progeny trials, grafted in Spring and maintained in the nursery as stock plants to provide cuttings and also buds for culturing in vitro. Treatments to enhance rooting in cuttings from grafted and micropropagated plants will be optimised as well as rejuvenation treatments and the underlying biochemical events.

• Micropropagation / somatic embryogenesis

Systems for micropropagating selected lines of ash will be developed to define the optimal environmental and hormone regimes for obtaining masses of plants on a practical scale. Mycorrhization , somatic embryogenesis and adventitious shoot formation will be investigated as methods to improve propagation efficiency and plant quality.

• Biochemical indicators for propagation

We will examine shoot cultures and plants to identify those specific proteins which are stress indicators and correlate the optimal cultural conditions with biochemical indicators that are characteristic of healthy unstressed plants.

• Reproductive biology

We plan to define a set of environmental conditions and treatments which will regulate the induction of flowering leading to production of viable pollen and seed under controlled condition

Adoption and Utilisation strategies

See Diagram

Novel approaches to ensure the utilisation of improved genetic stocks by farmers/foresters.

• Activation of a European user group (a consultative panel, (including EUREKA)

We will engage with the end users of Ash by establishing a Consultative Panel. Members will be drawn from associations of tree growers in at least 7 EU states to represent all sectors from regulators to processors. The Consultative Panel will function as a 2-way communication platform for: a) the resource users to inform researchers and for b) researchers to inform the resource users. It will also facilitate the survey work in 3.2.

▪ Identification of key players in the " chain of influence" affecting adoption

In relation to the utilisation of improved germplasm, the first study aspect will define the socio-economic dimensions of those factors most likely to influence the rate at which the improved genetic material will be adopted in practice by the targeted tree growers.

The second aspect will be concerned evaluating market needs and the potential of improved material.

The third aspect is concerned with utilising and deploying the germplasm that is generated by the project in the most profitable ways possible.For each research site the ‘chain of influence’ and related networks from experiment station to the targeted users will be specified.

• Preparing for Fraxinus Certification

The molecular and morphological data on ash resources examined will be assessed for its value as an additional tool for the purpose of Certification. Different methods developed throughout the project will be assessed for their respective power in identifying provenances, seed orchards and individuals. A common set of methods will be tested by a number of laboratories. The most suitable of these will be characterised in terms of precision, power, reliability, cost, and workload.

Fig. 2: Adoption and utilisation strategies