Dear colleagues,
Biology Thursday seminar continues 27th March, 12:15, on site in room MA335, with
Prof. Johanna Witzell, Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Linnaeus University, Sweden: "New approaches to conservation of threatened elms - mycobiome, resistance breeding and citizen engagement"
Elm trees (Ulmus spp.) face a severe threat from invasive pathogen Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, the causative agent of Dutch elm disease. This challenge calls for innovative conservation strategies integrating multiple disciplines. Recent research highlights the role of the elm mycobiome-its fungal microbiota-in disease resistance and tree health. Advances in resistance breeding are also providing promising avenues for developing resilient elm populations. Moreover, citizen engagement, including participatory monitoring, is increasingly recognized as a key component in conservation efforts. By combining mycobiome insights, selective breeding, and public involvement, these approaches offer a holistic strategy for safeguarding elm populations in changing environments. In this presentation, I review the status of elm research and conservation efforts in Sweden.
See also: https://lnu.se/en/staff/johanna.witzell/ https://scholar.google.fi/citations?hl=fi&user=YM_LjVQAAAAJ&view_op=...
See you there!
Heikki