![\"Emerald](\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/emeralAshBorer-2.jpg\")
<\/a>An adult emerald ash borer feeds off a leaf. (Purdue University Department of Entomology photo\/John Obermeyer)<\/p><\/div>\n
But for reasons that researchers are learning more about, some trees have survived.<\/p>\n
Koch says they\u2019ve identified at least two reasons why. Lingering ash seem to attract fewer hungry adult ash borers, which means they\u2019re less likely to become homes to eggs. And when eggs do hatch on lingering ash trees, they tend to be smaller and have a higher mortality rate.<\/p>\n
Those are extremely valuable characteristic for modern ash trees, so Koch is making sure they get passed on through cloning. Not genetic modification, but rather clonal duplicates of lingering ash literally cut from part of the parent tree.<\/p>\n
Maybe most importantly, Koch says the cloned trees appear to be even more resistant to the ash borer. With their cloned trees healthy and growing, researchers are waiting on the next generation of seeds to see if they\u2019re even more resistant than their cloned parents.<\/p>\n
Koch says they plan to add more lingering ash seedlings into their on-site orchard this year. Ash trees planted from seed typically take seven to 10 years to begin giving off seeds of their own, so it could be another decade before Koch knows just how successful their ash tree breeding program can be.<\/p>\n
See full article:<\/strong> Attack Of The Clones: Ohio Researchers Find New Hope For Fighting Ash Borer<\/a>, WOSU Public Media<\/p>\n Resources:
\n<\/strong>Question: What options do we have to treat our ash trees against the Emerald Ash Borer?<\/a>,\u00a0Got Nature?, Purdue Extension-FNR
\nInvasive Pest Species: Tools for Staging and Managing EAB in the Urban Forest<\/a>, Got Nature?, Purdue Extension-FNR
\nEmerald Ash Borer<\/a>, Purdue Extension-Entomology
\nEmerald Ash Borer Tools & Resources<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Purdue Extension Entomology<\/p>\n