The current dramatic increase in DNB damage to pines in the northern hemisphere may be due to climate change and / or forest management driving evolution of a more virulent form the pathogen. Distinguishing between these situations is key to understanding and controlling the current threat from Dothistroma.

The experiment will use DNA sequencing to compare DNB populations in managed and unmanaged forest to see if human activity like fungicide use or planting of non-native trees has accelerated evolution of the pathogen. This work will integrate knowledge and genomic techniques developed in agriculture into forest pathology practice.

Researchers involved in Experiment 1 are:

Richard Ennos (Edinburgh University): rennos@ed.ac.uk 

Marta Piotrowska (Scotland's Rural College - SRUC): Marta.Piotrowska@sruc.ac.uk

Carolyn Riddell (University of Edinburgh): criddell@staffmail.ed.ac.uk

Peter Hoebe (Scotland's Rural College - SRUC): Peter.Hoebe@sruc.ac.uk

Photo: A. Perry