Latvia – Ukraine cooperation program of the Latvian Science Council agreement No. LV_UA /2023/2
In the Study, in cooperation with Ukrainian colleagues, phytopathological and phytosanitary risks in ash groves are identified in order to provide recommendations for ash protection.
Results of 1st stage of the Study (1.03.2023–31.12.2023):
- analyzed the literature on the biology and ecology of the ash emerald green beetle Agrilus planipennis, risks of reproduction, possible control methods and host plants in Latvia;
- developed the most appropriate methodology for detecting the ash emerald green beetle in stands in cooperation with Ukrainian colleagues;
- potential risk zones for the spread of the ash emerald green stove beetle have been identified and 10 objects have been selected in them for monitoring the emerald green stove beetle with pheromone traps; deployment of pheromone traps in stands, survey of traps and collection of material; in 2018, the ash emerald green beetle was not detected;
- developed a methodology for assessing the phytosanitary status of ash stands and the vitality of trees (proportion of ash death, its cause) in cooperation with Ukrainian colleagues;
- selected and surveyed 20 new stands of common ash in the eastern part of Latvia, assessing ash vitality and collecting branch samples from symptomatic trees. Regarding Hymenoscyphus fraxineus damage, the proportion of symptomatic trees in the stand was 36%.