Propagating and preserving the best European ash
During the project, a high quality stand of European ash, Fraxinus excelsior, located in northwestern Germany was selected by the Lower Saxony Forest Research Institute (LSFRI) for micro-propagation. Shoot tips and axillary buds were removed, sterilised and established on woody plant medium. Further to experimentation, the LSFRI came up with an effective concoction of plant growth stimulants to encourage regeneration. Similar tests revealed the most successful rooting medium combinations depending on the type of cutting. Vitality rates reaching up to 100% were achieved during the subsequent transfer of the plant material to greenhouses, which was aided by the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The RAP project also investigated the potential for storing prime genetic material using the cryo-preservation technique, where in vitro samples are chilled to sub-zero temperatures. LSFRI scientists developed both the cooling and warming protocols, in which media, temperatures and other parameters are specified, culminating in excellent recovery rates. All successfully propagated cuttings were planted in the Lower Saxony region. The knowledge acquired during the project will be used to ensure the future of the European ash.