Differential persistence of blue ash and white ash following emerald ash borer invasion

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (8) ◽  
pp. 1542-1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara R. Tanis ◽  
Deborah G. McCullough

Catastrophic mortality of North American ash ( Fraxinus spp.) caused by Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire has been attributed to the lack of coevolved resistance between native ash species and this Asian invader. Although A. planipennis host preference or tree resistance can vary, all North American ash species are presumably highly vulnerable to A. planipennis. We inventoried live and dead blue ash ( Fraxinus quadrangulata Michx.) and white ash ( Fraxinus americana L.) in two southeastern Michigan woodlots several years after the A. planipennis invasion to assess their survival. Agrilus planipennis populations in this area peaked in approximately 2005, and the region is now characterized by nearly complete ash mortality. At the Plymouth site, 71% of the original 380 blue ash were alive, whereas only 29 saplings of the original 187 white ash were alive. At the Superior Township site, 63% of the original 210 blue ash were living, whereas all 125 white ash were dead. More than 80% of the blue ash had evidence of previous A. planipennis colonization, but 87% appeared healthy in 2011. Tree diameter did not consistently affect survival, and live and dead trees of both species were distributed across sites, indicating that differential survival was not attributable to localized conditions.

2007 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 338-349
Author(s):  
Andrea Anulewicz ◽  
Deborah McCullough ◽  
David Cappaert

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), a phloem-feeding insect native to Asia, was identified in 2002 as the cause of widespread ash (Fraxinus) mortality in southeast Michigan, U.S. and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Little information about A. planipennis is available from its native range and it was not known whether this invasive pest would exhibit a preference for a particular North American ash species. We monitored A. planipennis density and canopy condition on green ash (F. pennsylvanica) and white ash (F. americana) street trees in four neighborhoods and on white and blue ash (F. quadrangulata) trees in two woodlots in southeast Michigan. Green ash street trees had significantly more canopy dieback and higher A. planipennis densities than white ash trees growing in the same neighborhood. Density increased by two- to fourfold in both species over a 3-year period. Canopy dieback increased linearly from 2002 to 2005 as A. planipennis density increased (R 2= 0.70). In each of the woodlots, A. planipennis densities were significantly higher on white ash trees than blue ash trees. Woodpecker predation occurred in all sites and accounted for 35% of the A. planipennis that developed on trees we surveyed. Results indicate that surveys for A. planipennis detection in areas with multiple ash species should focus on the relatively preferred species.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurel Haavik ◽  
Daniel Herms

The emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) invasion of North America has increased interest in ash (Fraxinus, Oleaceae) phylogeny, ecology, and physiology. In a common garden in central Ohio, we compared the performance of three North American ash cultivars that are highly susceptible to EAB (F. pennsylvanica ‘Patmore,’ F. americana ‘Autumn Purple,’ and F. nigra ‘Fall Gold’), one North American species that is less susceptible to EAB (F. quadrangulata), and two taxa that are resistant to EAB (F. mandshurica and F. mandshurica × F. nigra ‘Northern Treasure’). During the 2015 growing season, we measured diameter growth, foliar N concentration, specific leaf area, and on four dates (two with adequate and two with low precipitation) we measured CO2 assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), variable fluorescence (Fv’/Fm’: efficiency of energy harvested by open photosystem II reaction centers), and the fraction of photons absorbed by photosystem II that were used for photosynthesis (ɸPSII). F. pennsylvanica grew fastest and on most sampling dates was superior in physiological performance (A, gs, and ɸPSII). Generally, however, there was little interspecific variation in growth and physiology among the different ash taxa tested, as all performed well. This suggests that the EAB-resistant F. mandshurica and F. mandshurica × F. nigra hybrid, as well as the moderately resistant blue ash, are as physiologically well-suited to growing conditions in the Midwestern United States as green and white ash cultivars that had been widely planted prior to the EAB invasion.


Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohail Qazi ◽  
Domenic Lombardo ◽  
Mamdouh Abou-Zaid

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, Fairmaire, an Asian invasive alien buprestid has devastated tens of millions of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in North America. Foliar phytochemicals of the genus Fraxinus (Oleaceae): Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Green ash), F. americana (White ash), F. profunda (Bush) Bush. (Pumpkin ash), F. quadrangulata Michx. (Blue ash), F. nigra Marsh. (Black ash) and F. mandshurica (Manchurian ash) were investigated using HPLC-MS/MS and untargeted metabolomics. HPLC-MS/MS help identified 26 compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids and coumarins in varying amounts. Hydroxycoumarins, esculetin, esculin, fraxetin, fraxin, fraxidin and scopoletin were isolated from blue, black and Manchurian ashes. High-throughput metabolomics revealed 35 metabolites, including terpenes, secoiridoids and lignans. Metabolomic profiling indicated several upregulated putative compounds from Manchurian ash, especially fraxinol, ligstroside, oleuropin, matairesinol, pinoresinol glucoside, 8-hydroxypinoresinol-4-glucoside, verbenalin, hydroxytyrosol-1-O-glucoside, totarol and ar-artemisene. Further, dicyclomine, aphidicolin, parthenolide, famciclovir, ar-turmerone and myriocin were identified upregulated in blue ash. Principal component analysis demonstrated a clear separation between Manchurian and blue ashes from black, green, white and pumpkin ashes. The presence of defensive compounds upregulated in Manchurian ash, suggests their potential role in providing constitutive resistance to EAB, and reflects its co-evolutionary history with A. planipennis, where they appear to coexist in their native habitats.


2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Tanis ◽  
Deborah McCullough

Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis), first identified near Detroit, Michigan, U.S., in 2002, has killed millions of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) in 28 states and two Canadian provinces to date. Trunk injections of insecticide products containing emamectin benzoate (EB) (e.g., TREE-ageR) are often used to protect ash trees in landscapes from EAB, but wounds and potential injury resulting from injections are a concern. Researchers examined 507 injection sites on 61 trees and recorded evidence of secondary wounding (e.g., external bark cracks, internal xylem necrosis and pathogen infection). Researchers assessed 233 injection sites on 22 green ash and 24 white ash trees macro-injected with a low or a medium-high rate of EB in 2008 only, or in both 2008 and 2009. Only 12 of 233 injection sites (5%) were associated with external bark cracks and there was no evidence of pathogen infection. On 39 of the 46 trees (85%), new xylem was growing over injection sites. Researchers assessed 274 injection sites on 15 green ash trees injected annually with EB from 2008 to 2013 or injected in 2008 and again in 2011. Bark cracks were associated with four injection sites on three trees, but no evidence of injury was found on the other 12 trees. All 15 trees had new xylem laid over injection sites. Confocal laser scanning and polarizing digital microscopy were used to assess the integrity of discolored xylem tissue removed from the immediate area surrounding 140 injection sites on 61 trees. Researchers found no evidence of decay associated with discoloration.


2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1537-1559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carson C. Keever ◽  
Christal Nieman ◽  
Larissa Ramsay ◽  
Carol E. Ritland ◽  
Leah S. Bauer ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. 598-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.E. Jennings ◽  
J.J. Duan ◽  
P.M. Shrewsbury

AbstractEmerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is a serious invasive forest pest in North America responsible for killing tens to hundreds of millions of ash trees since it was accidentally introduced in the 1990s. Although host-plant resistance and natural enemies are known to be important sources of mortality for EAB in Asia, less is known about the importance of different sources of mortality at recently colonized sites in the invaded range of EAB, and how these relate to host tree crown condition. To further our understanding of EAB population dynamics, we used a large-scale field experiment and life-table analyses to quantify the fates of EAB larvae and the relative importance of different biotic mortality factors at 12 recently colonized sites in Maryland. We found that the fates of larvae were highly dependent on EAB life stage and host tree crown condition. In relatively healthy trees (i.e., with a low EAB infestation) and for early instars, host tree resistance was the most important mortality factor. Conversely, in more unhealthy trees (i.e., with a moderate to high EAB infestation) and for later instars, parasitism and predation were the major sources of mortality. Life-table analyses also indicated how the lack of sufficient levels of host tree resistance and natural enemies contribute to rapid population growth of EAB at recently colonized sites. Our findings provide further evidence of the mechanisms by which EAB has been able to successfully establish and spread in North America.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 219-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Skvarla ◽  
Jeffrey D. Holland

Abstract Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is an invasive beetle attacking North American ash trees (Fraxinus L. [Oleaceae]). Populations in infested areas are monitored with purple sticky traps. During summer 2008, we monitored nine pairs of purple traps and clear control traps to determine which other insect families are attracted to these traps and whether these traps might be used to monitor other pest insects. We argue that monitoring bycatch in these traps could greatly increase the potential of finding other invasive species.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby R. Petrice ◽  
Robert A. Haack

Abstract Efforts to eradicate or slow the spread of emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire [Coleoptera: Buprestidae]) include cutting infested and nearby uninfested ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees. However, ash trees readily sprout after they have been cut, providing potential host material for EAB. In 2004–2005, we conducted studies to determine how different cutting times (midspring, late spring, and late summer), different cutting heights (0–5, 10–15, and 20–25 cm above the ground), and triclopyr (44% active ingredient) stump treatment of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) trees affected subsequent stump sprouting and colonization by EAB. We also cut white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) and black ash (Fraxinus nigra Marsh.) trees 20–25 cm above the ground in late spring. Some stumps of each ash species tested sprouted and were colonized by EAB. All green ash stumps treated with triclopyr died and were not colonized by EAB. Stump sprouting was significantly lower for stumps cut in late spring compared with stumps cut in midspring or late summer. Stump sprouting did not vary significantly among cutting heights. None of the green ash stumps cut in midspring or cut 0–5 cm above the ground were colonized by EAB; however, the frequency of stump colonization by EAB did not vary significantly among cutting times or cutting heights.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1509
Author(s):  
Nickolas N. Rajtar ◽  
Benjamin W. Held ◽  
Robert A. Blanchette

The emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) is a devastating invasive pest that has killed millions of ash trees in the United States and Canada. EAB was discovered in the US in 2002 and first reported in Minnesota in 2009. It attacks ash trees that are native to the United States, including Fraxinus americana (white ash), F. nigra (black ash) and F. pennsylvanica (green ash). It also attacks Chionanthus virginicus (white fringe tree). Seven species of fungi isolated and identified only from EAB-infested trees in a previous study as having the potential to cause cankers were used to test their pathogenicity in F. americana (white ash). The fungi used were Cytospora pruinosa, Diplodia mutila, Diplodia seriata, Paraconiothyrium brasiliense, Phaeoacremonium minimum, Phaeoacremonium scolyti, and Thyronectria aurigera. Two field experiments that used F. americana used two inoculation methods: woodchip and agar plug inoculations. Results indicated that all of the fungi tested caused cankers in varying amounts, as compared to the controls. The largest cankers were caused by D. mutila (270 mm2), C. pruinosa (169 mm2), and D. seriata (69 mm2). All fungi except for T. aurigera were re-isolated and sequenced to confirm Kochs’ postulates. Canker-causing fungi found in association with EAB galleries have the potential to contribute to tree dieback and mortality.


2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly Martinson ◽  
Chris Sargent ◽  
Michael Raupp

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a devastating buprestid beetle introduced to North America from Asia. Asian ash trees exhibit resistance to EAB, likely due to a shared co-evolutionary history. Resistance to one pest, however, does not necessarily confer resistance to others. Should Asian ash be highly susceptible to North American herbivores, the utility of such species for hybridization, breeding programs, and establishment in managed landscapes could be compromised. Common urban problems, such as drought stress, can increase borer attack and survival and may further complicate the search for resistant plant material. The objectives of this study were to examine the relative susceptibility of green (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Manchurian (F. mandshurica) ash to EAB and indigenous borers and whether that susceptibility changed with drought stress. In a common garden experiment, EAB occurred more frequently and reached higher abundances in green than Manchurian ash. The frequency and abundance of bark beetles (Curculionidae), North American native clearwing borers (Sesiidae), and longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) were similar in the two ash species. Generation time of EAB was uniformly one year and did not depend on ash species or water stress. Although borers increased as expected in stressed trees, the relative susceptibility of green and Manchurian ash to borers did not change. The findings suggest Manchurian ash may be resistant to several classes of borers, regardless of insect geographic origin, although these conclusions should be viewed with some caution until the results can be verified in larger trees.


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