US EditionShoots of hope for Britain's cherished ash trees
- Researchers from leading UK institutions have found that British ash woodlands are developing resistance to the ash dieback fungus through natural selection acting on thousands of genetic variants, according to a 2025 study.
- Ash dieback disease, caused by the Asian fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, arrived in the UK in 2012 and was predicted to kill up to 85% of native ash trees, prompting significant government research investment.
- The study compared genomes of 128 mature and 458 young ash trees at Marden Park wood in Surrey, revealing that resistance-linked gene variants are more common in saplings, indicating natural selection removes susceptible trees.
- Professor Richard Buggs expressed optimism that ash trees may avoid the severe decline experienced by elms in Britain, but he emphasized that full resistance might take time to develop and that active human intervention will be necessary.
- The findings imply that combining breeding programs with natural regeneration could help preserve native ash, though ongoing protection and genetic diversity movement will support trees against future threats.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Ash Trees in Britain Are Evolving a Resistance to Fungal Disease That was Devastating Woodlands
To use what will become a timeless adage, one of the most amazing things about life is how it, uh, finds a way—as seen lately in England where ash trees are spontaneously developing resistance to a deadly disease. Natural selection in woodlands is acting to combat the disease ash dieback—caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus […] The post Ash Trees in Britain Are Evolving a Resistance to Fungal Disease That was Devastating Woodlands appear…
Good news for hurley makers as ash trees evolving resistance to dieback, new study reveals
Previous studies found apparent resistance in some ash saplings, but the new study gives in-depth genetic information that could help breeding programmes to support the natural recovery of ash trees
British ash woodland is evolving resistance to ash dieback, researchers discover
Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Queen Mary University of London have discovered that a new generation of ash trees, growing naturally in woodland, exhibit greater resistance to the disease compared to older trees. They find that natural selection is acting upon thousands of locations within the ash tree DNA, driving the evolution of resistance.
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