Transcript Seed Collection - EABFirstDetectorsTraining

One Step Ahead of EAB:
A Genetic Conservation Program
for Ash in Minnesota
Andrew David, Associate Professor
Department of Forest Resources
University of Minnesota
and
Mike Reichenbach, Extension Educator
University of Minnesota
Overview
 Minnesota Seed Collection Initiative
 Ash tree identification
 Seed collection
EAB – Status of knowledge
 Lack of an effective biological control
 All ash species impacted
 Virtually all tree sizes susceptible
 No known natural resistance
Based on these facts it is prudent and
proactive to prepare for an invasion
of EAB in Minnesota.
Preparation for EAB
 Minnesota Department of Agriculture



EAB readiness team
EAB scientific advisory group
1st Detector trainings
 Ash seed collection program


Systematic sampling strategy
Opportunistic strategy
The Minnesota Ash Seed
Collection Initiative
 Work with the Natural Resource
Conservation Service Rose Lake Plant
Materials Center in Michigan
 Seeds will be stored at the USDA
Agricultural Research Service facility in
Colorado
USDA NRCS
Ash seed collection
 Goal
 Protect the genetic variation of Minnesota’s ash
resource by collecting open pollinated seed and
creating an ex situ seed bank
 Who will collect the seed
 Research team
 Volunteers
Ash Tree Identification - Terms
No
Petiole
Opposite
Palmate
Sessile
Petiole
Alternate
Pinnate
Rachis
Petiolate
Ash Trees vs. Other Trees
 Branching Opposite or Alternate?
 Alternate = NOT an Ash
 Opposite = Ash, Maple, Dogwood, or Buckeye
 Leaf Arrangement Pinnate or Palmate?
 Palmate = NOT an Ash
 Pinnate = Ash or Boxelder
 Number of usual leaflets per leaf?
 3 – 5 leaflets, usually 3 = Boxelder
 5 - 9 leaflets, usually 7 = Ash
USDA NRCS
Black Ash
Leaves are 12-16 inches
long with 7-11 pointedoval, finely-toothed
leaflets. Leaflets are
smooth dark-green,
leaflets tight against
rachis
Black Ash seed
Black ash grows 50-70 feet in height
depending on the soil type.
USDA NRCS
Green Ash
Green Ash tree
Leaflets on short petiole
Green Ash seed
USDA NRCS
White Ash
Leaflet on short petiole
White Ash tree
Pale underside
of leaflet
White Ash seed
USDA NRCS
Black ash
White ash
Green ash
Comparison of black, green and white ash seeds
R.P. Karrfalt, 2006
Seed collection
 Selecting the tree
 When to collect
 What to collect
 How to handle the seed
 Packaging
 Labeling
 Shipping
USDA NRCS
Selecting the tree
 Not all trees produce seed
 White and green ash
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Black ash
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
male & female flowers on separate trees -dioecious
Male and female flowers can be found on the
same tree -- monoecious
Flowering at the base of new growth in the
spring
 From which trees should seed be collected
Ash flowers
are formed
at the base
of the new
growth
each
spring.
R.P. Karrfalt, 2006
The flowers
and
immature
seeds are
indicators
that seeds
will be
available in
the fall.
R.P. Karrfalt, 2006
Collect seed from
“wild” trees.
Landscape trees,
in parks, along
streets, and in
yards are not good
candidates.
R.P. Karrfalt, 2006
Seed collection
 When to collect
 September through December.
Fruit normally ripens August through September but will
sometimes remain on the tree until the following spring
 What to collect
 Collect 1 – 2 cups of fruit (samara) from each tree or
group of trees at each site.
 Keep samara from each collection site and species
separated.
 Do not pick samara from the ground
Seed collection
 How to handle collection
 Place harvested seeds into a cloth or paper bag
 Label the bag to identify the sample
 Complete ash seed collection form and
attach to seed bag
 Store seeds under cool, dry conditions until shipment
 Send samples to
USDA-NRCS
Rose Lake Plant Materials Center
7472 Stoll Road
East Lansing, MI 48823-9420
Additional Information
 Ash seed collection website –
www.ashseed.org
 Handout materials
Ash seed collection information
 Ash identification Information
 Ash seed collection instructions and
collection forms

Minnesota ash genetic conservation
research team
 Andrew David – PI, UMN
 Mike Benedict – District forester, BIA
 David Ellis – Curator, USDA ARS NCGRP
 David Heinzen, Director RA, MN DNR
 Rick Klevorn, State Silviculturist, MN DNR
 Mike Reichenbach, Extension Educator
 Kathy Haiby – Field plot coordinator
 Egon Humenberger – Assistant Scientist
 Julie Hendrickson – Master’s student