Scientists have developed a fast-track method of breeding disease-resistant ash trees, offering hope for Britain's ash population devastated by ash dieback. The fungus, which blocks water transport within ash trees, was first confirmed in the UK in 2012 and could lead to the loss of up to 80% of ash trees, according to the Woodland Trust.
Researchers at the John Innes Centre in Norwich have reduced the germination time for ash seeds from up to six years in nature to around one week in the lab. The rapid method has already produced more than 2,000 seedlings for trials and research.
The technique involves carefully extracting the embryo from the seed coat using a knife and tweezers and placing it on an agar nutrient jelly. This bypasses the seed's natural dormancy, which normally requires cycles of warm and cold conditions. Within about two weeks, seedlings are ready to be transferred to compost; after ten months in a glasshouse, they can be planted outdoors.
Dr Elizabeth Orton, lead author of the study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, said: 'We have produced hundreds of seedlings rapidly for experimentation, for our seed orchard or for planting in the wild.' She added that the team aims to develop a kitchen method using household bleach and agar so that enthusiasts can help restore ash populations at home.
The breakthrough has been welcomed by the international research community and could be adapted for other species, such as elm, to combat the spread of pests and pathogens driven by climate change.
