Welcome to Minnesota’s Ash Tree Seed Collection Program
Lowland hardwood forest with black ash. Photo courtesy of Michael Benedict
Minnesota has more ash trees than any other state except Maine. In the lowland hardwood forest type 51% of the trees are ash. Nearly 150 different wildlife species utilize these forests.
Emerald ash borer, an insect from Asia has been found in Minnesota. This insect kills ash trees of all sizes. Other states are also experiencing tree death from this insect. The insect has spread rapidly from the Detroit, Michigan area through the movement of ash firewood, ash tree debris, and nursery stock. The loss of all of Minnesota’s ash trees is a possibility.
Protecting the genetic resource of ash trees in Minnesota by collecting ash seed from native wild grown trees will provide options for research into resistance and re-establishment. You can help with this effort by collecting seed from ash trees.
The seed collection project
Seed is being collected throughout the state by both citizens and researchers. This project known as the Conservation of Minnesota’s Ash Genetic Resources in Response to Emerald Ash borer, began in 2008 and will last through June of 2011. The project headed by Andy David, Associate Professor with the University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources has several partners including the University of Minnesota Extension, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the University of Minnesota Natural Resource Research Institute.
A Model System
The idea behind the project is to create a model system for seed collection. The model includes a systematic collection effort aimed at collecting 20 to 30 samples from 50 populations each for black and green ash. Collecting samples from trees in each of the ecolocical zones defined by the USDA Forest Service National Seed Laboratory in Dry Branch Georgia and collecting seed opportunisitically from native wild ash trees.
Seed storage
The workers and volunteers collecting seed record information on the tree location before sending it to Andrew David. The seed is cleaned and data recorded for the project before it is sent to one of three seed storage facilities. The National Plant Germplasm System in Fort Collins, Colorado; the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa; and the USDA Forest Service National Seed Laboratory in Dry Branch, Georgia.
Forward Thinking
The long-term goal is to prepare for the reintroduction of ash or breeding efforts. If a way is found to control emerald ash borer, ash can be reintroduced using seed that is locally adapted to the area of reintroduction. If emerald ash borer cannot be controlled, a breeding native ash with ash species that evolved with the borer may yield a tree that can withstand attack.
For more information about the Ash Seed Conservation project and the Emerald Ash Borer, see the Ash Seed Conservation News or EAB News pages.
Collecting ash seed
For instructional videos on Ash Seed Collection procedures, please see the WEBINARS page.
For PDF forms that will help with the collection and identification of Ash Seed, visit the PUBLICATIONS page.
***New publication from the USDA Forest Service*** Methods for Collecting Ash (Fraxinus spp.) Seeds
