Article
Plant Sciences
Regina Becker, Kristina Ulrich, Undine Behrendt, Volker Schneck, Andreas Ulrich
Summary: Research has found that a bacterium called C2P003 can help resist the invasive pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which causes dieback in European ash trees. This bacterium suppresses the infection by colonizing the ash leaves and affecting the bacterial microbiome, leading to improved plant health.
Article
Forestry
Remigijus Bakys, Alfas Pliura, Gintare Bajerkeviciene, Adas Marciulynas, Diana Marciulyniene, Jurate Lynikiene, Audrius Menkis
Summary: Ash dieback caused by the alien fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus has led to the decline of European ash in Lithuania. However, recent inventories have found naturally regenerated ash stands. A study on these stands revealed that the fungal communities associated with ash were mainly composed of endophytic fungi, some of which may limit the infection rate or spread of H. fraxineus. The diversity of fungal taxa was found to be higher in natural ash habitats compared to planted trials, highlighting the importance of natural habitats in ash restoration programs.
Article
Plant Sciences
Anna Hebda, Aleksandra Liszka, Piotr Zglobicki, Katarzyna Nawrot-Chorabik, Jan J. Lyczakowski
Summary: This study presents the first successful genetic transformation of European ash callus tissue, providing a selection process for stable transgenic callus lines to study gene function and design breeding strategies for resistant trees. The use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to transform callus tissue from F. excelsior embryos was key in demonstrating the stable expression of transgenes. The transformation techniques described in this paper are expected to facilitate rapid progress in uncovering the molecular basis of ash dieback and validating gene targets for resistance to Hymenoscyphus fraxineus pathogenicity.
Article
Forestry
Anna-Katharina Eisen, Barbara Fussi, Branko Sikoparija, Susanne Jochner-Oette
Summary: This study investigates the factors affecting ash pollen transport through field experiments and finds that meteorology, phenological development, and plantation topography are associated with pollen dispersion. Trees outside the plantation contribute more pollen in low flowering years, while trees within the plantation contribute more in high pollen years. Pollen can be transported for distances greater than 400 meters, but the amount of pollen decreases significantly with increasing distance.
Review
Ecology
Mathieu Levesque, Jose Ignacio Bustamante Eduardo, Valentin Queloz
Summary: Common ash trees in Europe have been experiencing widespread decline and mortality due to ash dieback and the invasive emerald ash borer. This review summarizes the potential alternative tree species to common ash, but no native species alone or in combination can fully replace its ecological niche and associated ecosystem services. While some non-native ash species may have similar ecological characteristics and tolerance to ash dieback and emerald ash borer, their performance and invasiveness potential in European forests are still unknown.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Tadeusz Kowalski, Piotr Bilanski, Bartlomiej Grad
Summary: This study investigates the occurrence and pathogenicity of A. hystrix on Acer pseudoplatanus and Fraxinus excelsior at forest sites in Poland. The results indicate that A. hystrix is pathogenic to A. pseudoplatanus but not to F. excelsior.
Article
Microbiology
Anindita Lahiri, Brian R. Murphy, Trevor R. Hodkinson
Summary: The study investigated the microbial characteristics of Fraxinus excelsior populations in different sources, environments, and tissues using culture dependent and culture independent approaches. Significant differences were found in the diversity and composition of endophytes, with higher species richness and Shannon index values in leaf material and the French population. Seed and leaf microbiome communities were distinct, with a strong influence of Fraxinus species identity on fungal community composition.
Article
Microbiology
Remigijus Bakys, Gintare Bajerkeviciene, Alfas Pliura, Adas Marciulynas, Diana Marciulyniene, Jurate Lynikiene, Valeriia Mishcherikova, Audrius Menkis
Summary: Fifty-nine fungal taxa isolated from re-emerging Fraxinus excelsior sites in Lithuania were tested in vitro against three strains of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, with some fungi showing strong growth inhibition of the pathogen.
Article
Forestry
Anna-Katharina Eisen, Devrim Semizer-Cuming, Susanne Jochner-Oette, Barbara Fussi
Summary: Paternity analyses show that healthier males are more likely to facilitate effective pollination of ash trees affected by ash dieback, thereby having a positive impact on the health of future generations. Understanding gene flow patterns, especially with respect to ash dieback, is essential.
ANNALS OF FOREST SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Trevor Fenning, Margaret O'Donnell, Katharine Preedy, Aurelia Bezanger, David Kenyon, Gustavo Lopez
Summary: This study established a set of standard tissue culture methods for propagation of ash trees and successfully produced a large number of rooted clonal plants. The findings are important for overcoming ash die-back disease.
ANNALS OF FOREST SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Lisa Buchner, Anna-Katharina Eisen, Branko Sikoparija, Susanne Jochner-Oette
Summary: This study investigates the impact of long-distance transport on pollen viability in fragmented populations of ash trees affected by ash dieback. The viability of ash pollen is crucial for the survival of the species. The experiments conducted in a climate chamber and with a volumetric pollen trap show that prevailing temperatures have a significant influence on pollen viability, with warmer conditions causing faster decline. Optimal storage temperature and germination medium were determined, and properly stored pollen can be used for breeding programs to support the survival of Fraxinus excelsior.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Duccio Migliorini, Nicola Luchi, Emanuele Nigrone, Francesco Pecori, Alessia Lucia Pepori, Alberto Santini
Summary: This study examines the expansion of Ash Dieback into central Italy and the consequences of further local spread for the loss of Ash genetic resource. The presence of H. fraxineus was confirmed in all symptomatic host plants in central Italy. The spread of Ash Dieback poses a threat to the genetic material of Ash trees, especially those adapted to warm climates, which may become increasingly valuable under climate change.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Katarzyna Nawrot-Chorabik, Bartosz Plucinski, Dariusz Latowski
Summary: This study presents an efficient method for producing European ash seedlings through indirect auxiliary organogenesis, with a multi-factor analysis of its effectiveness. The researchers developed procedures for breaking seed dormancy and disinfecting primary explants, as well as determining the appropriate composition of culture media. Zygotic embryos were found to be the best type of primary explant for micropropagation of European ash. This method not only allows for the acquisition of ash seedlings with different genotypes, but also facilitates the rapid selection of desired genotypes at the callus stage.
Article
Forestry
Stefan Klesse, Georg von Arx, Martin M. Gossner, Christian Hug, Andreas Rigling, Valentin Queloz
Summary: The study suggests that smaller or slower-growing trees are more susceptible to crown dieback compared to larger or faster-growing trees. Factors such as defoliation, vessel size, and non-structural carbohydrate concentrations play a role in this phenomenon, leading to stronger symptoms of dieback and higher mortality rates in smaller and slower-growing trees.
Article
Forestry
Marek Barta, Katarina Pastircakova, Radovan Ostrovsky, Marek Kobza, Miriam Kadasi Horakova
Summary: The species diversity of culturable endophytic fungi in Fraxinus excelsior trees was examined, with Ascomycota species dominating the endophytic mycobiota. Pleosporales and Diaporthales were the most frequently observed endophytes. The inhibitory effects of various endophytic fungi on the growth of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus were studied, with Fusarium lateritium and Didymella aliena being the most effective inhibitors. However, the overall difference in necrotic lesion length caused by H. fraxineus infection was not significant after co-inoculation with the endophytes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Isabell von Rein, Arthur Gessler, Katrin Premke, Claudia Keitel, Andreas Ulrich, Zachary E. Kayler
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2016)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Regina Becker, Andreas Ulrich
EUROPEAN FOOD RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Florian Reverey, Lars Ganzert, Gunnar Lischeid, Andreas Ulrich, Katrin Premke, Hans-Peter Grossart
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2018)
Article
Microbiology
Jenny Fabian, Sanja Zlatanovic, Michael Mutz, Hans-Peter Grossart, Robert van Geldern, Andreas Ulrich, Gerd Gleixner, Katrin Premke
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Soil Science
C. Buchen, D. Roobroeck, J. Augustin, U. Behrendt, P. Boeckx, A. Ulrich
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Regina Becker, Kristina Ulrich, Undine Behrendt, Michael Kube, Andreas Ulrich
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Microbiology
Kristina Ulrich, Michael Kube, Regina Becker, Volker Schneck, Andreas Ulrich
Summary: Plant-associated Stenotrophomonas isolates, such as Stenotrophomonas sp. 169, have the potential to promote plant growth by producing growth-stimulating hormones and enhancing plant tolerance to stress conditions. The genome of strain 169 contains functional genes associated with plant colonization, growth promotion, and stress protection.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Davide Francioli, Geeisy Cid, Saranya Kanukollu, Andreas Ulrich, Mohammad-Reza Hajirezaei, Steffen Kolb
Summary: Flooding significantly affects both above- and below-ground ecosystem processes, posing a substantial threat to crop productivity under climate change. Plant-associated microbiota plays a crucial role in plant growth, but its response to extreme events like flooding is not well understood. The study showed that flooding led to a reduction in plant development and a shift in bacterial community composition at different plant growth stages, with a more pronounced disruption in younger plants. Significant changes in community composition were correlated with alterations in soil conditions and plant properties caused by flooding stress.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Simon Lewin, Davide Francioli, Andreas Ulrich, Steffen Kolb
Summary: The study identified metabolically active bacterial microbiota in the rhizosphere of wheat, barley, rye, and oilseed rape at different growth stages. The bacterial microbiota was shaped by two different rhizosphere compartments, with different key bacteria identified for each crop species. The findings suggest host plant-specific interactions within the rhizosphere microbiota that are essential for modifying native crop microbiomes and developing bio-fertilizers.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kristina Ulrich, Regina Becker, Undine Behrendt, Michael Kube, Volker Schneck, Andreas Ulrich
Summary: A group of isolates of the genus Luteimonas, identified as a specific component of the healthy core microbiome of Fraxinus excelsior in forest districts with a high infection rate of H. fraxineus, showed clear differentiation from related Luteimonas species based on phylogenomic and phenotypic analyses. The isolates, identified as a novel species Luteimonas fraxinea sp. nov., exhibited features associated with attachment, biofilm production, and motility, indicating their ability to colonize ash leaves effectively. In nursery trials, inoculation with the novel species suppressed the pathogen and resulted in significant changes in the bacterial microbiome of the plants. These findings suggest that the novel species may suppress the penetration and spreading of H. fraxineus in or on ash leaves through colonization resistance or priming effect of plant defenses against the pathogen.
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Valentin Burghard, Sonja Wende, Andreas Ulrich
Summary: In this study, qPCR was used to monitor the inoculation success of bacterial strains on common ash plants. A workflow based on genome comparison was used to design strain-specific qPCR systems. The designed qPCR systems were found to be highly sensitive and strain specific, allowing for the efficient quantification of the inoculated bacterial strains. This method can be applied to other biocontrol agents to observe their persistence after inoculation, making it valuable for evaluating the biocontrol of plant diseases.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Timsy, Tobias Spanner, Andreas Ulrich, Susanne Kublik, Barbel U. Foesel, Steffen Kolb, Marcus A. Horn, Undine Behrendt
Summary: A novel strain was isolated from grassland soil with the ability to assimilate ammonium in the presence of oxygen, identified as a new species of Pseudomonas based on genetic analysis. The isolate demonstrated genetic differences at the species level compared to its closest phylogenetic neighbors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Katja Felsmann, Mathias Baudis, Zachary E. Kayler, Heike Puhlmann, Andreas Ulrich, Arthur Gessler
ANNALS OF FOREST SCIENCE
(2018)
Article
Microbiology
Undine Behrendt, Sonja Wende, Steffen Kolb, Andreas Ulrich
Summary: The study re-evaluated the taxonomy and nomenclature of Proteus and Cosenzaea, suggesting the use of Proteus myxofaciens as the appropriate name, and classifying Proteus cibarius as a subspecies of Proteus terrae. Furthermore, it revealed a close relationship between Proteus genomospecies 5 and P. terrae subsp. terrae, assigning them to the same subspecies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)