Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Genetic Conservation - Ash Germplasm

Ash trees
An ash tree that has not been protected with insecticide (left) versus ash trees that have been protected (right). (Courtesy photo by Jeff Hafner) 

Introduction

In response to extensive tree mortality by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), ash seeds are being collected for long term storage to preserve genetic resources of the ash species. This has been a combined effort of the Agricultural Research Service and the Forest Service along with NRCS, BLM, and over 50 cooperators. The overall goal, of the collections, was to obtain 50 trees per Omernik ecoregion level III where a particular species occurred (link to plan). An ecoregion is a region of like environmental conditions and would represent trees adapted to those ecological conditions. Collections are to be evenly spaced across an ecoregion. Amounts collected per tree generally range from 2 to 10 quarts (2,000 to 10,000 CC) or 2,500 to 12,500 seeds.

Help Save the Ash

Three photos. Left shows an iridescent green beetle sitting on bark. Center shows a cream-colored, segmented beetle larva on wood. Right shows two green beetle heads with large eyes and antennae peering out from holes in tree bark.
In the last decades, invasive emerald ash borer beetles decimated native ash tree populations across North America. LEFT: An adult emerald ash borer. (Photo courtesy of F.W. Ravlin, Michigan State University) CENTER: An emerald ash borer larva in an ash log. (USDA Forest Service photo by Debbie Miller) RIGHT: Young emerald ash borer adults emerge from holes in an infected ash tree. (USDA Forest Service Photo by Debbie Miller)

Although little can be done to save most of the ash trees alive today, their adapted genetics can be preserved through this long term seed storage program.  Cooperators are needed to both find trees with seeds and make seed collections.  The “Seed Collection Resources” below describe how to do both. Training to use the “Seed Collection Resources” will be made available through local events or electronically. 

Strategic Documents

Seed Collection Resources