{"id":203,"date":"2024-07-30T11:33:25","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T09:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uni-freiburg.de\/beispielseiten\/?page_id=203"},"modified":"2026-03-29T16:48:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T14:48:42","slug":"forschung","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uni-freiburg.de\/enr-forpath\/forschung\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Protecting urban and forest trees from new threats posed by climate-related pathogens<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our urban areas and forests are under increasing pressure from climate change, which favours the spread of new fungal pathogens and pests. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns lead to drought stress, which weakens these trees and makes them more susceptible to infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our research covers urban areas and forest regions in Germany and Europe. We investigate the interactions between microorganisms and their host trees as well as the spread of invasive pathogens. We use molecular genetic methods to precisely analyse the distribution and composition of these microorganisms and to identify natural antagonists that can strengthen the resilience of trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We pay particular attention to the development of strategies to combat trunk and branch cankers, which pose a growing threat in urban and forest areas. Through our comprehensive studies and early interventions, we aim to ensure the health, safety and longevity of our trees, thereby making an important contribution to the protection of our urban and natural green spaces.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Research projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"bl-object-cover\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Phyllosphere Mycobiome of Horse Chesnut: Herbivory, Fungal Pathogen Dynamics, and Trees\u00b4 Resilience in Urban Ecosystems  <\/strong><\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tHorse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum<\/em>) is an essential tree species that is currently facing considerable ecological pressures. This study conducted a large-scale transect across major European urban centers to reassess the long-standing assumption that a single fungal pathogen, Guignardia aesculi<\/em>, predominantly causes widespread foliar necrosis (leaf blotching). Using the \u201ctree health assessment\u201d approach, we systematically recorded and analysed foliar symptoms across 700 individual trees growing under contrasting urban environmental conditions.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"bl-object-cover\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tHow Host Switching and Drought Stress Empower a Latent Tip Blight Fungus in European Forests<\/strong><\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tDiplodia tip blight, caused by the ascomycete Diplodia sapinea<\/em>, represents one of the most significant emerging threats to pine species in Europe, with particular impact on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris<\/em>), a species of high ecological and economic relevance. This research demonstrates that pathogenic characterization of this fungus is based on its function, with transitions between endophytic to pathogenic lifestyles determined by environmental stressors and host-related factors.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Urban Stem Cancer: Emerging and Host-Shifting Fungal Pathogens of Necrosis in Central European Urban Trees  <\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tStem cankers and necroses represent a disease complex in urban trees. The present research project addresses a significant knowledge scarcity concerning the emergence and spread of novel and expanding fungal pathogens that infect broadleaf (deciduous) tree species in Central European cities. The results indicate an intensifying phytosanitary problem in urban forests, caused by opportunistic fungi that take advantage of abiotic and biotic stressors characteristic of urban environments.  \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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Research projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"bl-object-cover\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tNew fungal pathogens of Aesculus hippocastanum<\/em> in Europe and the deterioration of its condition due to the correlation with Cameraria ohridella<\/em><\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThe horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum<\/em>) is widespread in Europe, but is increasingly suffering from climate change. Fungal pathogens and infestation by the leaf miner moth (Cameraria ohridella<\/em>) are severely affecting the trees. To investigate the effects of climate change, we conducted a study along a south-west to north-east European transect covering six countries and ten urban forest areas. Around 700 trees and 750 symptomatic leaves were examined.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRead more\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"bl-object-cover\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tNew pathogens in urban areas in Germany increase the safety risk posed by trunk and branch cancer<\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tUrban trees are increasingly threatened by rising temperatures, drought and extreme weather events. These stress factors force trees to expend their energy on adapting to unfavourable conditions, weakening them and making them more susceptible to pest infestation and disease. At the same time, heat-loving insects and microorganisms are spreading in our regions, as they find ideal habitats in the changing climatic conditions.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"bl-object-cover\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tInvestigation of invasive fungal pests in sequoia trees under drought stress<\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThe giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum<\/em>) is one of the most impressive tree species in the world and is also commonly found in urban areas in Germany, such as Freiburg. However, climate change is putting this majestic tree species under increasing pressure. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are leading to drought stress, which weakens the trees and makes them more susceptible to infection by invasive fungal pests.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"bl-object-cover\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tInvestigating Fungal Diversity and Potential Pathogens in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum<\/em>)<\/strong><\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tGiant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum<\/em>) are among the largest and longest-lived organisms on Earth. Their resilience to emerging diseases, especially tip blight, is increasingly recognized as linked to their associated microbial communities, especially the mycobiome. This study represents one of the first systematic investigations of the mycobiome of S. giganteum<\/em> to examine how fungal community composition and diversity relate to tree health and disease resistance.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRead more\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"bl-object-cover\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tAssessing the Threat of Generalist and Specialist Fungi to Non\u2011Native Pine Diversity in European Cities<\/strong><\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tUrban environments are increasingly recognised as essential refugia for plant diversity, harbouring a broad range of non-native Pinus species planted for their tolerance of urban stressors. However, these geographically diverse Pinus assemblages can act as epidemiological hubs, where resident European fungal pathogens may readily expand their host range to colonise pine species. This tri-national survey, encompassing Germany, France, and Switzerland, evaluated the threat of the main fungal pathogens to 58 non-native pine species.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Mycobiome of European Mistletoe (Viscum album<\/em>): Detection of the Emerging Pathogen Sphaeropsis visci<\/em> on Coniferous Hosts<\/strong><\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tEuropean mistletoe (Viscum album<\/em>) is a hemiparasitic angiosperm that colonises a range of economically and ecologically significant tree species, including Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris<\/em>). This project emphasises the parasite itself, with particular attention to the structure and function of its associated fungal communities (the mycobiome).\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tRead more\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tInvestigating Diversity and Spread of Phytophthora<\/em> Species in Urban and Forest Ecosystems of Germany and Neighbouring Countries<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPhytophthora<\/em> is a genus of oomycetes (water moulds) that comprises some of the most destructive plant pathogens worldwide, responsible for diseases such as sudden oak death, root rot, and extensive tree mortality in both forested and urban environments. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tResearch projects\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tFORSCALE: A Transcontinental Assessment of Host\u2013Microbiome\u2013Pathogen Interactions in Pine and Fir Forests Using Integrated Genomics and Remote Sensing<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThis project, a part of the broader FORSCALE initiative, seeks to transform current approaches to monitoring and forecasting disease outbreaks in coniferous forest ecosystems. This project focuses on pine and fir species in Germany and Canada to understand the global drivers of coniferous health.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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Research infrastructure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Chair of Tree Pathology extends its research work to molecular genetic investigations and isolation and cultivation in the laboratory, as well as tests on plants in greenhouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The professorship is equipped with modern laboratory infrastructure, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n