Preservation of genetic diversity of ash (Fraxinus excelsior) in Britain: some thoughts.

摘要

In the absence of certainty around the numbers of ash that will survive the current outbreak of Chalara in Britain and Ireland, it is worth considering strategies for preserving the germplasm that makes up the current genetic diversity within the species in the UK. This paper identifies some criteria for collecting reproductive material from this country, and considers one option, using techniques derived and tested in the USA, for preserving ash germplasm for the future. The objective of this work is to provide future forest geneticists and pathologists with material to engineer resistance to the pathogen in future breeding programmes of ash.