Responses of European Forests and Society to Invasive Pathogens

• Applicant: Dr. Sabine Werres
• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Plants and Ecosystems ; Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology
• Term: from 2013 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 243613974

The project focuses on how European forest communities have responded to invasive pathogens. Studying the invasions at European level will allow us to include the entire populations of several tree species, such as elm, oak and ash, currently affected by different invaders affecting trees at different ages (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi=old trees, Chalara fraxinea=young trees, Erysiphe=small trees, Phytophthora=all trees). The German part will focus mainly on the following four topics:- development of electron microscopy techniques for analysis of root, wooden and leaf tissue- analysis of selected host/pathogen interactions on morphological and cellular level- validation of the bait test with Rhododendorn leaves for monitoring of water ways for contamination of Phytophthora according to the EPPO Guideline PM 7/98- detailed guideline for practical use of the bait test for plant protection services and for inspectors

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey
• Participating Persons: Thomas Cech, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Alfredo Cravador; Dr. Marie Laure Desprez-Loustau; Kurt Heungens, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Ari Mikko Hietala; Dr. Renaud Ioos; Ilker Kurbetli; Professor Dr. Slavtcho Slavov; Professor Dr. Jan Stenlid