In collaboration with the Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the State Specialized Forest Protection Enterprise "Kharkivlisozakhyst" together with the Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Agroforestry has initiated a pilot research project to create clonal plantations of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior). The project aims to test the resistance of nine Swedish clones to ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) and the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis).

The project, which involves developing an effective strategy to mitigate the impact of these invasive species on common ash, used grafted self-seeding material of common ash. Scions were taken from resistant trees in central Sweden - a total of 131 ash shoots were grafted, representing 9 different clones of Swedish origin. The plantation was established in the forests managed by the Zhovtneve Forestry branch.

To continue the experiment, 120 common ash seedlings were planted on the territory of "Kharkivlisozakhyst" to create additional grafted material. These seedlings were provided by the Myrhorod Forestry branch and are planned to be grafted with Swedish scions next year.

This cooperation between scientific and production institutions of Ukraine and Sweden establishes the first practical experiment studying ash resistance to dieback and the emerald ash borer. It will make a significant contribution to monitoring and managing these invasive ash species that have been introduced to Ukraine. Obtaining resistant phenotypes and genotypes of common ash could make an important contribution to preserving ash as a species in Europe and maintaining forest biodiversity of species associated with common ash.