Genomics of ash-emerald ash borer interactions

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The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive wood-boring beetle whose larvae tunnel under the bark of ash trees and can kill an infested tree within a few years. The EAB was introduced accidentally from Asia in the 1990s, and since its discovery in the Detroit-Windsor area in 2002, the insect has spread across Ontario and into Quebec (as well as to large parts of the USA), killing millions of ash trees in forests, parks and metropolitan areas. Ash is a key species in urban forestry, making up a significant proportion (up to 40%) of urban trees in municipalities across Canada. During ash infestation, the EAB feeds on the tree’s phloem, resulting in the progressive destruction of the vascular system of the tree. There is a pressing need to explore current tree genomics tools to better understand ash response to the EAB in order to improve its management and provide genetic markers for tree improvement.