Abstract
Large-scale diebacks and declines caused by pathogenic fungi are common in deciduous forests of Sweden and Europe. Among the best known of these diseases is the Dutch Elm Disease (DED), which has killed millions of elms all over the world. At present, the disease is rapidly spreading among the natural and planted elms of Sweden. Currently, the only practical management method is felling of the diseased trees. Because of the high risk of DED, other trees than elms are commonly planted to replace the dead elms. Thus, the future of elms and all organisms associated with them is becoming threatened. The general aim of this project is to gain new information about the biodiversity of a yet unexplored group of elm-associated organisms: endophyte fungi. These fungi live in plants without causing visible symptoms. Their presence may, however, increase the resistance of plants against natural enemies. In the proposed project, we will isolate and characterize endophytes in selected genotypes with varying resistance against DED and in geographic areas with different DED history. We will explore the potential for using these fungi as an environmentally friendly method to suppress DED. The deliverables of this international research project are 1) a collection of endophyte fungi with characterized potential to suppress DED and 2) new knowledge about the resistance mechanisms of ring-porous trees against wilting diseases.
Sweden