Description: Although emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, EAB) has decimated ash populations in large parts of the natural range in the northeastern U.S., in some stands a few trees, called lingering ash, remain alive. Scientists clonally replicated these lingering ash trees and used them in bioassay experiments of adult EAB feeding preference and larval development. They found that many lingering ash genotypes killed more EAB larvae and some were more effective at suppressing larval development compared to susceptible trees. Scientists are now evaluating the lingering ash in plantings, and carefully estimating the genetic diversity using DNA based markers.  Over the next few years, the data will be combined to build the first improved seed orchards for white and green ashes. 

Bio: Mary is a geneticist with USDA Forest Service North Research Station in Delaware, Ohio. Her research has focused on forest genetics and tree breeding solutions to forest health issues for over 20 years with experience in resistance to diseases and insect pests of southern pines, elm, ash, and beech. Currently, she is part of the research group that focuses on breeding EAB resistant ash trees. Mary supports this work through plantings and experimental design, as well as data analysis and statistics for the ash research.