Professor Robert Blanchette

The invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) has decimated ash trees in North America. Little is known about fungi that are associated with this insect and wounds (galleries) that form from larval feeding under the bark. Culture-based studies show a diverse group of canker causing, decay, and entomopathogenic fungi. These researchers are using a metabarcoding approach to more fully describe fungal diversity in EAB infested and healthy ash trees. 

In addition, metabarcoding will be used on air samples collected from across the state of Minnesota in surveys to detect the invasive forest pathogen Heterobasidion irregulare, which causes an aggressive root rot.