Conservation and molecular characterisation of Irish veteran oak (Quercus spp.) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.)
Evelyn Gallagher
Supervisor: Dr. Trevor Hodkinson
Veteran trees are among the oldest living objects in Ireland and are important genetic resources considering the extensive denudation of Irish forests - which resulted in just 1.5% of our land being under forest cover by 1900. Very ancient trees are more likely than younger trees to be descendants of the natural woodland that colonised Ireland after the last ice age. They represent a gene pool of trees with characteristics such as disease resistance and longevity (Read 1999). The location of veteran trees is documented in the Tree Register of Ireland database (National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin) which lists about 50 ash and 150 oak.This project set out to study the genetic variability of veteran ash and oak for the first time and to assess their breeding biology. The project intends to provide genetic information on veteran oak and ash using plastid and nuclear DNA markers and to use this information to study the biogeography and breeding biology of veteran oak and ash in Ireland. In addition, it is intended that the genetic integrity of individual trees will be determined by analysis of DNA from different limbs and different ages of shoots, to test for somaclonal variation, and to conserve botanical voucher specimens and DNA from veteran trees. At the same time selected plants have been conserved by staff at Kinsealy research centre, via vegetative propagation through grafting onto rootstocks or by rooting cuttings. These new plants will be conserved in ex situ collections in public parks and arboreta and private estates.