Effect of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) soil contamination on the development of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus on Fraxinus excelsior and F. angustifolia seedlings

Abstract

Biogeosciences and Forestry Biogeosciences and Forestry Effect of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) soil contamination on the development of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus on Fraxinus excelsior and F. angustifolia seedlings Aleksandar Vemić (1) , Vladan Popović (2) , Zoran Miletić (3) , Zlatan Radulović (4) , Ljubinko Rakonjac (3) , Aleksandar Lučić (2) In light of the increase of environmental pollution, we tested the effect of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) soil contamination on ash dieback. The experiment included the inoculation of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus on Fraxinus excelsior and Fraxinus angustifolia seedlings growing on unpolluted soil, soil contaminated with cadmium (Cd), and soil contaminated with lead (Pb). At the end of the experiment, 173 days after soil contamination and 50 days since inoculation, all F. excelsior and F. angustifolia seedlings inoculated with H. fraxineus showed ash dieback symptoms in comparison to their control groups. However, both F. excelsior and F. angustifolia seedlings grown on contaminated soil had significantly increased necrotic lesions in comparison to the seedlings grown on uncontaminated soil. Our results showed for the first time that cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) soil contamination can significantly contribute to ash dieback and increase damage to F. excelsior and F. angustifolia seedlings.