Non-chemical protection

 

This programme has housed a number of diverse projects united by the need to address growing concern over chemical control methods.  From 2003, research has been curtailed because of the reallocation of resources to cover the outbreak of Phytophthora ramorum.  However work continues to identify exploitable resistance mechanisms to major forest pathogens such as Heterobasidion annosum.  Research also continues into bio-control methods against H. annosum, especially into enabling wider use of the antagonistic decay fungus Phlebiopsis gigantea.

Non-chemical protection includes research carried out at the University of Abertay Dundee into the genetic manipulation of trees to confer protective mechanisms against threats from living or non-living agents.

Despite current reductions in resourcing, the aim is to retain this as a strategic programme generating scientific data and providing a “horizon scanning” function.  It provides advice on long-term possibilities for innovative control measures and takes some through to direct advice to managers – as will be the case with Phlebiopsis gigantea as a biocontrol for H. annosum.

Commissioned reports

No reports available at this time