Seminar: Audrius Menkis

Molecular monitoring of forest pathogens

Dr. Audrius Menkis (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)

Locally occurring and invasive forest pathogens represent a threat to natural and managed forest ecosystems worldwide. Dispersal by air is one of many mechanisms that allow these pathogens to spread both locally and globally. Continuous monitoring of forest pathogens using spore traps allows both evaluation of potential risks and early detection of invasive pathogens. Approaches of fungal spore trapping and metabarcoding for studying patterns of airborne fungal diversity, including fungal pathogens, will be discussed.