Ash trees pine-ing for fungus funds

Funds for Fungus

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The University of Exeter has been awarded fast-track research funding by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) in a bid to save ash trees from a deadly fungal disease.

The University is part of a consortium which has been awarded £2.4m in order to undertake urgent research into the ash dieback fungus, which threatens ash trees throughout the United Kingdom.

Research will look into the genetics of resistance in ash trees, and develop monitoring plans for the distribution and spread of the fungus.

BBSRC Chief Executive Professor Douglas Kell said: “These grants will enable the UK’s world-leading bioscience community to speed up the response to tackling the disease directly.”