Abstract
The main objective of the proposed project is to study the dispersal and spread of invasive pathogens. This will be done using spore, insect and baiting traps together with molecular methods, such as qPCR and high through-put sequencing. Already established invasive pathogens such as Chalara fraxinea, Ophiostoma novo-ulmi and Phytophthora alni will be used to validate this system as means to detect and monitor invasive pathogens. The possibility of using this approach to assess spread via horticultural plants in nurseries will be investigated by targeting Phytophthora ramorum. Spore catchments will also be used to study the relationship between conducive weather conditions and spore production as well as seasonal variation. Whether spread across continents is constant or accelerated will also be investigated. Departures from the expected spread, based on trap captures, will be used to investigate whether human transportation increase the spread within the course of an invasion. Increased understanding of different modes of dispersal will allow industry and environmental agencies to gain key knowledge on how invasive pathogens spread in Sweden. This will provide knowledge on how to design an efficient strategy to monitor and detect invasive pathogens, thus increasing the possibilities to contain and eradicate invasions in the future.
Sweden