Photo by Wyatt Williams

Large-scale Progeny Testing of Oregon Ash: A Foundation for Conservation and Breeding in Response to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) and other North American ash species are highly susceptible to emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis), an introduced insect pest. The devastation caused by EAB in eastern North America has led to the listing of five ash species as being at risk of extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In Oregon, EAB was first documented in the summer of 2022 in the Forest Grove area. Thus, there is much concern about the future impacts of EAB on Oregon ash and associated ecosystems. In the eastern U.S., there appears to be a low level of genetic resistance to EAB in the species tested. Thus, we may be able to obtain useful levels of genetic resistance in Oregon ash via aggressive breeding. To achieve this, we propose to develop a large-scale testing and breeding program for EAB resistance in Oregon ash. By eventually planting genetically resistant trees, we may be able to maintain or restore Oregon ash to Pacific Northwest ecosystems.

Steering Committee Resources

• Oregon ash progeny test proposal (draft_8_30_23)
• Steering Committee members

General Resources

• Forest Facts: Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

For More Information

• Richard Sniezko,
• Glenn Howe,