Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

This project will address the risks to UK tree species from Phytophthora introduction and spread by; i) examining the current distribution and diversity of Phytophthoras in UK plant nursery systems, ii) providing the evidence base to refine nursery 'best practice' criteria for a UK-wide voluntary nursery accreditation scheme, iii) identifying those Phytophthora species not currently present in the UK but which pose the greatest threat to our ecosystems based on their biological traits and environmental profiles, iv) identifying key international pathways for Phytophthora spread and national points for biosecurity focus and v) understanding better the risk of genetic interaction occurring when Phytophthoras meet, resulting in new aggressive types. To achieve these objectives, the distribution and diversity of Phytophthora species in water and plant samples collected from different UK plant nursery management systems, including those locations considered to be high risk in terms of importing new Phytophthoras, will be studied using state-of-the-art DNA sequencing technology. Water samples from streams and ponds in amenity environments will also be collected to investigate the wider distribution of nursery-associated Phytophthoras. This work will identify nursery practices resulting in the highest density and diversity of Phytophthora pathogens and the highest probability of onward spread into woodland or other natural ecosystems. These data will provide evidence to guide the development of a UK-wide voluntary nursery accreditation scheme. Nurseries signing up to the scheme will adhere to a set of 'best practice' criteria designed to reduce the risks of importation and dissemination of Phytophthoras. Feasibility assessments will involve consultation with nursery managers, consumers and other stakeholders in order to identify economic and social opportunities and barriers, and attitudes towards implementation of such a scheme. We will also explore options to promote the visibility and legitimacy of the accreditation scheme to consumers such that there is an added advantage for nurseries to take part. Identifying future global Phytophthora threats and potential routes of entry will be essential in refining nursery 'best practice' and other national biosecurity measures. To do this, data on current known global distribution of Phytophthoras infecting woody species and biological characteristics that may affect establishment will be collated from databases and national surveys conducted in a broad range of countries. Models will identify those species occurring in locations resembling the UK's climate and ecosystems and those species that are ecologically similar to Phytophthoras that have established in Europe, strengthening the evidence base for inclusion of pathogens in the UK Plant Health Risk Register. We will also look at the pathways of international trade and tourism and the risks of new Phytophthora introductions via these routes, identifying national focus points for biosecurity based on a raised risk that new Phytophthoras will arrive at these locations. Pathway analyses will be used to inform nursery managers and accreditation scheme criteria of the highest risk trade practices. Current practices are increasing the diversity of co-existing Phytophthoras in the environment, yet we have little understanding of the potential for new aggressive Phytophthoras to arise through hybridisation or other mechanisms of genetic exchange when new species meet. Whole genome sequences of Phytophthora species will be examined to determine the extent to which genetic exchange has occurred among Phytophthoras and related organisms, and how this might have enabled these pathogens to adapt on to tree species, change virulence or host range. This work will enhance our fundamental understanding of pathogen evolution.

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.

"Trees in urban areas are vitally important parts of our culture, heritage,urban environment; and physical / mental health and wellbeing. They make our parks, towns and cities more pleasant to live in, keep them cool in the heat, reduce flooding, clean the air and provide homes for wildlife. The ancient trees of our towns and cities are living connections to the past. Looking after trees in the pressures of the urban environment is difficult: there are competing needs of maintaining the environment, managing the negative impacts of trees: i.e. building subsidence and damage to roads; and keeping trees, people and property safe. For trees on public land, this task is mainly the job of local authorities and the companies they contract to assist them. But as budgets are cut and workloads increase, monitoring and managing urban trees is becoming more challenging. In addition, given the scale of the task, organisations like local authorities and contractors do not always fully understand the way that ordinary citizens assign value to the trees around them. To properly look after our urban trees we need to allow members of the public to share ownership and responsibility; and joining in with collecting information on them can help. Unfortunately our current systems don't allow this: where data exist they are fragmented, collected in different ways on different computer systems and stored away from public access. Some cities have online tree maps, but none allow members of the public to contribute data directly. This places a large burden on the organisations which hold and manage the data and stops them working with each other and the public to better manage their trees. The COMMUNITREE project aims to develop a world-leading app and website which will build the world's largest open tree map and become the basis for members of the public to share with those responsible for urban trees in the monitoring, management and understanding of trees in our towns. We will use our position as the UK's leading organisations in urban tree citizen science to work closely with others involved in urban trees, local authorities and the private sector to implement a standard for data collection that will make data fully transferable between these different users. Ultimately, we expect these tools to help those responsible for urban trees work with the public to manage them more effectively for the benefit of trees and people."