Oct. 30, 2012 A recent, Swedish study in the Scandinavian
Journal of Forest Research has revealed crucial information for
horticulturalists in the UK, and in Northern and Central Europe,
in their battles against the aggressive attacks of the Chalara
fraxinea fungus (otherwise known as ash dieback disease) on
mature forest areas. Results from the study are far reaching,
encouraging governments to invest in ash breeding programmes
that will all but eliminate the disease. - Ash dieback damage on
16-22 year old trees in Swedish orchards analysed - Findings
indicate that the disease is strongly genotypically controlled,
meaning that it attacks ash trees that display the same or
similar genetic properties - Scope for introducing breeding
programmes to produce ash trees with greater resistance to
infection The research is more important than ever. October 29,
a ban on UK imports of ash trees came into force before reports
from BBC News indicated that 100,000 trees had been destroyed in
an attempt to stop the spread