Barbara Fussi

• PhD
• Head of Department at Bavarian Office for Forest Genetics, Teisendorf, Germany

The effects of climate change and biodiversity loss are global and not limited by national borders, with forest ecosystems, in particular, suffering under increasing pressure. To preserve and maintain species genetic diversity, well-considered in situ and ex situ measures are needed. We present a step-by-step guide outlining the key processes for s...

Leaf phenology, a critical determinant of plant fitness and ecosystem function, is undergoing rapid shifts due to climate change, yet its complex genetic and environmental drivers remain incompletely understood. Understanding the genetic basis of phenological adaptation is crucial for forecasting forest responses to a changing climate. Here, we int...

Die Weißtanne ist eine der wichtigsten heimischen Nadelbaumarten. Gerade auf trockenen Standorten besteht ein deutlicher Bedarf, auch andere klimaresiliente Herkünfte aus dem natürlichen Verbreitungsgebiet zu nutzen und an den Klimawandel anzupassen. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde die kalabrische Tanne als klimaresiliente Herkunft detailliert unters...

The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly visible and affect entire ecosystems and their services. Following more frequent dry years and the invasive spread of harmful organisms, interest in drought- and frost-tolerant alternative tree species in forestry practices is growing. The two cedar species, Atlas and Lebanon cedar are discuss...

Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) has been considered an important candidate species for climate-resilient forest management in Germany. The occurrence of ash dieback, caused by the invasive fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, severely limits its use. However, less damaged ash trees in heavily infested stands are observed. This suggests a tree-specifi...

Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, the causal agent of Ash Dieback (ADB), has been introduced to eastern Europe in the 1990s from where it spread causing decline in European ash populations. However, the genetic basis of the molecular response in tolerant and susceptible ash trees to this disease is still largely unknown. We performed RNA-sequencing to study...

Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is under intensive attack from the invasive alien pathogenic fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, causing ash dieback at epidemic levels throughout Europe. Previous studies have found significant genetic variation among genotypes in ash dieback susceptibility and that host phenology, such as autumn yellowing, is correlate...

Ash dieback (ADB) has been causing the progressive decline of Fraxinus excelsior trees throughout Europe, urging research and forest management to develop strategies to combat ADB. A genetically heritable component in susceptibility to this fungal disease was reported in common gardens. Thus, exploring the molecular basis of ADB susceptibility will...

Across various European countries, Fraxinus excelsior L. is facing a decline caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus . The underlying mechanisms of the disease are still insufficiently understood in detail. Observations suggest that, in addition to the main pathogen, viral infections may also contribute to the decline of ash trees. We described homologue...

Climate change and its consequences for forest ecosystems are now clearly noticeable and pose major challenges for the forestry sector. Increasingly frequent heatwaves, droughts, storms, extensive wildfires, and infestation with harmful organisms are impeding tree growth worldwide. This is leading to the dying off of forest stands on the correspond...

The effects of climate change are clearly noticeable and native main tree species such as spruce, pine and beech are showing significant losses in vitality in some locations. As temperatures continue to rise and summer precipitation decreases, oak species are gaining in importance due to their predominantly high tolerance of drought. Their share of...

Genetic diversity is considered to be a prerequisite for adaptation and adaptability as it is a key element of biological diversity. However, the monitoring of genetic diversity has tended to be ignored in biodiversity monitoring. We report a comprehensive genetic monitoring effort in two dominant forest tree species, which was started with a basel...

Genetic monitoring of populations currently attracts interest in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity but needs long-term planning and investments. However, genetic diversity has been largely neglected in biodiversity monitoring, and when addressed, it is treated separately, detached from other conservation issues, such as habitat...

Central European white oaks expanded rapidly after the last glacial period and reached their current distribution range during the early Holocene. They have been an important resource of timber, fuelwood and animal feed for humans, who actively promoted their presence in forests and other landscape types at least since the early historical times. B...

Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is under intensive attack from the invasive alien pathogenic fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, causing ash dieback at epidemic levels throughout Europe. Previous studies have found significant genetic variation among clones in ash dieback susceptibility and that host phenology, such as autumn yellowing, is correlated w...

Forest tree species reproduction is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity of future generations and the stability of forest ecosystems. The ongoing ash dieback disease could affect the reproductive ecology of Fraxinus excelsior L. and have a major impact on the quantity and quality of pollen and seeds. In this study, we investigated pol...

Climate change is already affecting all forest ecosystems and threatening species therein. By establishing mixed forests incorporating other tree species (e. g. scattered broadleaves) adaptation of forest stands to changing environmental conditions can be improved and the risks minimized. Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna L.) has been currently discus...

The downy birch has a large natural range and, as a typical bog species, is an ecologically important tree species. In the face of climate change, peatlands play an important role in binding CO₂ and provide an important habitat for rare native species. An increasing demand for suitable seeds and planting material is expected as a result of bog rena...

Central European populations of silver fir ( Abies alba Mill.) grow under a relatively wide amplitude of environmental conditions. Assuming that forest tree stands are locally adapted, the use of forest reproductive material from sites with limited water availability is expected to increase drought tolerance in future forests. At the same time, gen...

Key message: Paternity analyses show that effective pollination of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) in a seed orchard and a floodplain forest affected by ash dieback is more likely to be facilitated by healthier males. Thereby, natural selection can have a positive effect on the health of future generations. Context: Ongoing ash dieback and increasing f...

Current climate change species response models usually not include evolution. We integrated remote sensing with population genomics to improve phenotypic response prediction to drought stress in the key forest tree European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). We used whole-genome sequencing of pooled DNA from natural stands along an ecological gradient fro...

Adult individuals and seeds of two mixed stands of coastal and interior Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) were analysed for genetic differentiation between the two varieties and evidence of intervarietal pollination. Clear genetic discrimination between the two varieties was observed based on multilocus evaluation of nine microsat...

The ecological importance of scattered tree species such as elms (the European white elm, the wych elm and the field elm) is widely recognized in Europe. The European white elm, along with other elm species, is important as part of the traditional landscape and as a tree with multiple uses. In Germany, a total of more than 825 white elm populations...

Due to complex history of European forests, natural populations may not necessarily represent autochthonous genepools for forest trees. Eastern Prussian forests were famous for using non-local sources for afforestation. We studied efficiency of a set of nuclear microsatellite markers (nSSR) for genetic association and diversity studies of 194 adult...

For sustainable forest development a stable, functional, and therefore species-rich ecosystem is required to fulfil the diverse functions of forests. Rare tree species contribute substantially to diversity and provided an important habitat function for other species. Further, they have a vital impact on the stability of forest ecosystems and increa...

Der Speierling gilt als eine der seltensten Baumarten Deutschlands und ist mit den 4.889 kartierten Bäumen kaum in deutschen Wäldern vorhanden. In Bayern stocken laut der bundesweiten Studie von 2013 insgesamt nur 1.055 Bäume. Die heutige Verbreitung des Speierlings ist das Ergebnis seiner ökologischen Ansprüche sowie der Rückwanderungsgeschichte n...

The ongoing fragmentation of ash populations due to ash dieback requires an effective gene flow between individuals; thus, investigations on ash pollen transport are essential. In this study, comprehensive aerobiological field experiments at two seed plantations in Baden-Württemberg were conducted in 2019 and 2020 in order to study the influence of...

Scots pine is economically and ecologically important forest tree species in Lithuania. According to the Regulation of Forest Planting and Restoration of Lithuania (2018) and the Regulations on Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) (2017) forests must be planted and replanted with the target tree species, using high quality seeds and seedlings from a...

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) occurs at the southern margin of its distribution range, close to the glacial refugia of this species. To assess the patterns of genetic diversity distribution at the rear edge of the Holocene colonization, we studied genetic variation in 20 pedunculate oak populations using 14 allozyme...

Scots pine is economically and ecologically important forest tree species in Lithuania. According to the Regulation of Forest Planting and Restoration of Lithuania (2018) and the Regulations on Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) (2017) forests must be planted and replanted with the target tree species, using high quality seeds and seedlings from a...

Im Klimawandel spielt die Weißtanne eine wichtige Rolle und wird auf geeigneten Standorten als eine mögliche Ersatzbaumart bewertet. Herkünfte aus den rumänischen Karpaten (wärmeres Klima als in Bayern) könnten als Ergänzung und Anreicherung des heimischen Genpools im Klimawandel für unterschiedliche Regionen Bayerns von hohem Interesse sein. Die W...

Der Klimawandel stellt alle Akteure der Wald- und Forstwirtschaft vor große Herausforderungen und ist für Förster/innen und Waldbesitzer/innen schon längst zur Realität geworden. Ziel des vom Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL) geförderten Projektes ist es, die Anbaueignung und Anbauwürdigkeit von Herküften der Atlaszeder (C....

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) occurs at the southern margin of its distribution range, close to the glacial refugia of this species. To assess the patterns of genetic diversity distribution at the rear edge of the Holocene colonization, we studied genetic variation in 20 pedunculate oak populations using 14 allozyme...

Pedunculate oak, Quercus robur L., represents one of the most valuable tree species in Serbia and is mainly found in the Northern part of the country (Vojvodina province). These forests are among the most extensive pedunculate oak forests in the southern part of the distribution range in the Western Balkans. Serbian oak forests are under pressure d...

Abstract The conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources (FGR) in the face of the threat posed by climate change has become a challenging task for scientists and foresters. Genetic variability and diversity of FGR and forest reproductive material (FRM) will play a key role in forest adaptation under future environmental conditions....

Is it possible to untangle the historical mosaic of human interference with the origin of forest plantations in Europe? This topic is relevant at the northern frontier of species expansion such as western Lithuania, where European beech was introduced by German foresters in the eighteenth century. Our aim was to identify the origin and assess the g...

Tree species of minor commercial importance are mostly neglected both in large-scale genetic surveys and gene conservation programs. Gene conservation measures of forest trees focus on the preservation of intra-species genetic variability, which is a prerequisite of species’ adaptive evolutionary potential enabling it to survive unfavourable condit...

European beech, Fagus sylvatica L., is one of the most important and widespread deciduous tree species in Central Europe and is widely managed for its hard wood. The complete DNA sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Fagus sylvatica L. was assembled and annotated based on Illumina MiSeq reads and validated using long reads from nanopore MinION se...

Abstract Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and King Boris fir (Abies borisii-regis Mattf.) are wind-pollinated, monoecious, generally outcrossing conifer tree species, which belong to the Abies genus. Silver fir is one of the most important forest tree species from an economic and ecological point of view in several European countries. King Boris fir...

Abstract Wild cherry (Prunus avium L.), is a medium sized, fast growing and rather short-lived deciduous tree, with wide natural distribution range, which includes western Eurasia and the northern part of Africa. The species is a pioneer one that grows in a wide range of habitats; however, the species is extremely scattered throughout its distribu...

Abstract Scots pine, Norway spruce, Pedunculate oak and European beech are among the economically and ecologically most important forest trees species in Lithuania. According to the Regulation of Forest Planting and Restoration of Lithuania (2018) and the Regulations on Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) (2017) forests must be planted and replante...

Abstract. Genetic monitoring guidelines for seven target tree species (Abies alba/Abies borisii-regis complex, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Pinus nigra, Populus nigra, Prunus avium, Quercus petraea/robur complex) were developed within the LIFEGENMON project in order to facilitate the implementation of their genetic monitoring at the Europe...

Abstract Gene flow (Nm) is among the most important factors shaping the genetic diversity and structure of forest tree populations and can be determined by the mating system that intervenes the recombination and variety of genes between generations and determines the level to which genes are exchanged between individuals and populations. Therefore,...

Genetic diversity represents the basis for adaptability and survival of tree species in changing environmental conditions. Global warming will cause extreme weather events in the future. To gain information about the long-term development of the genetic systems of forest tree populations there is an urgent need to establish a monitoring system for...

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and King Boris fir (Abies borisii-regis Mattf.) are wind-pollinated, monoecious, generally outcrossing conifer tree species, which belong to the Abies genus. Silver fir is one of the most important forest tree species from an economic and ecological point of view in several European countries. King Boris fir is an impo...

Wild cherry (Prunus avium (L.) L.), is a medium sized, fast growing and rather short-lived deciduous tree, with wide natural distribution range, which includes western Eurasia and the northern part of Africa [1]. The species is a pioneer one that grows in a wide range of habitats; however, the species is extremely scattered throughout its distribut...

Key message High levels of genetic diversity, pronounced genetic structure and limitations to gene flow in Serbian spruce, a rare and endangered tree species from the refugial Balkan region, point towards a “one population-one unit” strategy for assembling a network of Genetic Conservation Units (GCUs) for its dynamic conservation. On the other han...

Genetische Vielfalt ist eine wesentliche Grundlage von Waldbaumpopulationen, um sich an Veränderungen der Umweltbedingungen aus eigener Kraft anzupassen. Deshalb sind für die Baumart Buche deutschlandweit insgesamt 14 Monitoringflächen eingerichtet worden, auf denen sowohl der Zustand als auch die räumlichen und zeitlichen Veränderungen genetischer...

Relict oak (Quercus spp.) stands on extremely dry sites, particularly on steep scree slopes have not been the main focus of forest genetics and tree breeding programs in Central Europe. This is due to their poor growth characteristics. However, such sites presumably harbour a long habitat continuity. Due to the reduced competitive ability of common...

Abstract The mating system affects the structure, adaptation and evolution of a population’s genetic variability (Mitton 1992, Merzeau et al. 1994). In plant species different mating systems can be found, from autogamy to allogamy (Merzeau et al. 1994). Therefore, variation in the mating success of both males and females disrupts the assumption th...

Corylus colurna is considered as important tree species under climate change for dry and warm conditions in Central Europe and was overused because of its valuable wood. Therefore Turkish hazel is now present only in small isolated populations and is protected under IUCN. Genetic conservation of this tree species plays a key role in future sustaina...

Die Sommermonate 2015 und 2018 gaben einen eindrucksvollen Vorgeschmack auf die uns erwartenden klimatischen Veränderungen. Zahlreiche Baumarten litten stark unter der Trockenheit in Verbindung mit warmen bis heißen Temperaturen. Es ist davon auszugehen, dass viele Baumarten mit dem zukünftigen Klima nicht mehr zurecht kommen werden. So wird der Ru...

Regular reproductive cycles and seed formation in forest trees ensure that the population is able to survive and reproduce. Over the last few decades, forests have been facing many threats and pressures, especially those related to climate change and human impact. As a result of changing environment frequency of reproductive years become more irreg...

Aufgrund ihrer Wuchsschwäche standen Reliktbestände der Eiche auf extrem trockenen Standorten (oft Block- und Felshänge) bisher kaum im Mittelpunkt der Forstgenetik und Forstpflanzenzüchtung. Bei solchen Vorkommen kann von einer langen Habitattradition und möglicherweise auch Autochthonie der Eiche ausgegangen werden. Einerseits stellt die Eiche do...

Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) is a keystone conifer of European montane forest ecosystems that has experienced large fluctuations in population size during during the Quaternary and, more recently, due to land-use change. To forecast the species' future distribution and survival, it is important to investigate the genetic basis of adaptation to env...

Forest trees are long lived sessile organisms that need to withstand a wide range of climatic and biotic stressors posing risk to their survival. Conservation and management of forest genetic resources for sustainable use is essential, but not an easy task and special tools, such as forest genetic monitoring are needed to recognise the state and ch...

In the present paper we studied the genetic diversity and genetic structure of five Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karsten) natural populations situated in Serbia, belonging to the southern lineage of the species at the southern margin of the species distribution range. Four populations occur as disjunct populations on the outskirts of the Dinaric...

Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) is a broadleaved forest tree species mainly occurring in mountainous areas of Europe, preferring fresh to moist, deep, calcareous soils. As was the case with other important forest tree species, sycamore maple was absent from the area north of the Alps during the last ice age. Therefore, we investigated the o...

Teodosiu M., Mihai G., Fussi B., Ciocîrlan E., 2019. Genetic diversity and structure of Silver fi r (Abies alba Mill.) at the southeastern limit of its distribution range. Ann. For. Res. 62(2): 139-156. Abstract. In the Romanian Carpathians, Silver fi r covers about 5% of the forest area and is the second most important conifer species. Although th...

This paper presents the results of the first analyses of a series of provenance tests with Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis) in the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. The provenance trial comprises eight provenances from France, Luxembourg, Czech Republic and Germany (Germany provenances: Lower Saxony (Göttingen and Lutter) and Lower Franconia...

Genetic diversity is the basic level of biodiversity, which at higher levels includes species, ecosystem and landscape diversity. This hidden biodiversity has not been included till now into the systems of monitoring of forests, for conservation of nature and for protection of forests, although it is included in most national forest programmes in E...

Sustainable forest management is based on the long-term adaptability of forest ecosystems and starts at the lowest, namely the gene level. Forest genetic monitoring (FGM) is therefore a crucial component of any sustainable forest management as it gives a possibility to detect potentially harmful changes of forest adaptability before they are seen o...

The conservation and sustainable use of forests and forest genetic resources (FGR) is a challenging task for scientists and foresters. Forest management practices can affect diversity on various levels: genetic, species, and ecosystem. Understanding past natural disturbance dynamics and their level of dependence on human disturbances and management...

Douglas-fir is one of the most frequently planted non-native coniferous tree species in the recent past in Bulgaria. Based on phenotypic and morphological characteristics, the Douglas-fir plantations in Bulgaria are attributed to the coastal variety (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii). Genetic studies on variety identification are missing. The a...

Considering that Field Maple (Acer campestreL.) represents a widely spread tree species with high level of adaptability to varying ecological conditions it must be noted that in the future it can play a key role in the adaptability of forestry to climate changes, which are more evident with each year that passes, and also in reforestation of the ex...

In Europe, marketing of forest reproductive material (FRM) is regulated by EU and national law. Among the aims of the legislation is the conservation and enhancement of genetic diversity by providing FRM of known origin. For each species covered by the regulations, regions of provenance have been delineated within EU countries. By definition, these...

Genetic diversity is the basic level of biodiversity, which at higher levels includes species, ecosystem and landscape diversity. This hidden biodiversity has not been included till now into the systems of monitoring in forests, although it is included in most national forest programmes in European countries, which are supporting sustainable manage...

Management and conservation of forest genetic resources need to consider all processes which might affect their genetic variability under increasing threats from climate change and other direct and indirect effects of human related activities. The information on actual genetic variation through time canbe obtained through genetic monitoring, which...

Abstract: High genetic diversity of forest trees ensures that forests can grow, adapt and evolve under environmental change, but they may face threats when such change occurs faster than the species' adaptive and evolutionary mechanisms can handle. It is obviously necessary to design and implement a forest genetic monitoring (FGM) system. The main...

Ash dieback caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus reached Germany at the latest in 2002. Various projects investigating the disease and the genetic resistance in Fraxinus excelsior have since then been carried out in the country. This review summarizes these studies, depicting in detail the drastic progression of the disease and its devastating impacts...

Norway spruce is one of the most important economic species is Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the species at the edge of its natural range; nevertheless it attains significant growth and yield results. The species is often used for afforestation purposes. In the previous period, 4 progeny tests of Norway spruce were established in Bosnia and Herzego...

Ash is an important component of forestry in Austria; its loss due to the dieback disease would be a great challenge for many forest owners. We investigated seed material that was harvested in 2001, just prior to the onset of the disease. Seeds from at least ten (allegedly) separate trees per stand were obtained from commercial harvest lots, from s...

Zusammenfassung Der Berg-Ahorn (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) zählt zu den Waldbaumarten Mittel-europas, die aus genetischer Sicht relativ wenig untersucht sind. Im Rahmen des Projektes "FitForClim" wurde mit Hilfe von Mikrosatellitenmarkern aus der Chloroplasten-und Kern-DNA der genetische Fingerabdruck von 766 Berg-Ahorn-Plusbäumen, die über ganz Deuts...

Sorbus ratisbonensis is one of three endemic representatives of the hybrid subgenus Tormaria (S. aria s.l. × S. torminalis) in the southeastern part of the Franconian Jura. All three endemics settle the slopes of the rivers Naab and Vils. Aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive mechanism of S. ratisbonensis, to determine the parental tax...

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of pre-commercial tending and commercial thinning on the genetic diversity parameters, especially rare allele loss and diameter–heterozygosity associations, in Scots pine stands by retrospectively modelling the removal of inferior/superior trees. Modelling was based on empirical data of DNA pol...

We used the random subsampling approach based on the empirical data to identify the representative sample size for accurate estimates of allele frequencies within a population. The empirical data consisted of 12 nuclear microsatellite marker scores for 400 individuals sampled within 1 ha area in a representative natural stand of Scots pine. For eac...

There is now abundant evidence that modern climate change is reestablishing the geographic distributions of forest plant species world-wide. Special attention must be given to geographically peripheral-marginal populations, which are found at the edge of distribution areas and facing already significant changes due to climate change, pollution, hum...

Safeguarding sustainability of forest ecosystems with their habitat variability and all their functions is of highest priority. Therefore, the long-term adaptability of forest ecosystems to a changing environment must be secured, e.g., through sustainable forest management. High adaptability is based on biological variation starting at the genetic...

Der Bergahorn (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) zählt zu den einheimischen Baumarten Mitteleuropas mit dem Schwerpunkt seiner Verbreitung in kollinen und montanen Lagen. Nacheiszeitliche Rückwanderung, Anpassung und Genfluss haben die genetische Variation dieser Art geprägt. Im Rahmen des Projektes FitForClim wurde mit Hilfe von molekularen Markern der gene...

Genetic monitoring has proven to be an essential tool for genetic conservation across biomes. Forest genetic monitoring is the quantification of temporal changes in population genetic variation and structure, allowing the assessment of the dynamics of transition from the present to the future genetic status of a forest stand. The major genetic moni...