American beech trees may carry genetic resistance to deadly leaf disease
A study led by scientists at the Holden Arboretum has found evidence that beech leaf disease (BLD) symptom development is genetically controlled, providing the first evidence that some American beech trees may have genetic resistance. This finding supports further investigation and development of breeding populations for BLD resistance. Nearly a third of beech trees near BLD's epicenter in…
Scientists at the Holden Arboretum have discovered evidence that American beech trees may possess genetic resistance to beech leaf disease (BLD), a deadly affliction that has caused significant mortality among the trees since its detection in 2012. This breakthrough offers hope for the development of breeding programs aimed at creating BLD-resistant beech trees.
Near the BLD epicenter in northeastern Ohio, nearly a third of beech trees, mostly smaller ones, have perished since the disease's discovery. Researchers noted that certain beech trees in affected areas exhibited fewer symptoms compared to their heavily symptomatic neighbors. This led to the conservation of these robust trees for further study to determine if their genetic resistance can be passed down to offspring, a crucial step in developing a breeding program.
The researchers at Holden Forests & Gardens, led by David Burke, collaborated with the USDA Forest Service's Northern Research Station to conduct this study. They utilized a controlled environment to test for genetic resistance by propagating both symptomatic and healthy trees and exposing them to the nematodes responsible for BLD.
The results confirmed that genetics indeed play a role in symptom severity, with some beech genotypes displaying less severe symptoms than others. The team also ruled out other potential causes of the disease, such as bacteria or other microbes, confirming that live nematodes alone are responsible for BLD symptoms. Further research is needed to identify and propagate low- and no-symptom American beech trees to confirm the genetic control and understand its strength.
These findings are significant for beech-maple forests, as the loss of beech trees could have devastating impacts on the ecosystem, affecting wildlife that depend on beech nuts. The public is encouraged to report healthy American beech trees in affected areas using the TreeSnap app to contribute to ongoing research and efforts to breed BLD-resistant beech trees.
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