A.C. Red Band GA

Budget: €173,000

Summary: Currently, the Galician pine forests are threatened by multiple hazards (pine nematode, fusarium, bands, etc.). In recent years, red and brown bands have been causing severe damage in Galician pine forests, mainly in the insignis pine trees. In this species, the bands can cause tree death. In the case of the native pine, the damage is not as severe, although it can reduce their growth. The present action aims, on one hand, to select potential candidates of insignis pine for resistance to the banding, and on the other hand, to collect data on susceptibility to the disease, both in established adult progeny trials in the field for more than two decades, and in progeny trials of both species that are going to be installed throughout this action. In the case of the native pine, a trial of origin will also be established to compare the susceptibility of the Galician improved population with that of other origins of the species. At the end of the cooperation action, it is anticipated to obtain a better understanding of the degree of susceptibility of the pinaster origins, as well as of the components of the improved populations of pinaster and radiata. The results intended to be achieved in this action will allow, in the near future, the availability of trees resistant or less susceptible to the disease caused by the bands, which will contribute to greater resilience of the Galician forestry sector.