D3286: Long term survival and growth of Fraxinus chinensis and four North American ash species in a plantation exposed to emerald ash borer

In 2007, five species of ash (Fraxinus spp.) were planted as whips in randomized blocks in a Michigan State University plantation (30 trees/species). This included 4 North American species: black ash (F. nigra); blue ash (F. quadrangulate); green ash (F. pennsylvanica); white ash (F. americana), along with the Asian F. chinensis. Trees were protected from emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) with tree-wrap until 2011. From 2017-2022,  tree survival, DBH and density of woodpecker attacks on EAB larvae were recorded annually. In 2022, we collected increment cores from live trees and cross-sections from dead trees to measure annual radial growth. Black ash was highly preferred by EAB; all 30 black ash died by 2013. Green ash were heavily colonized but 40% survived until 2020. In 2022, 67% of white ash trees were alive but  heavily infested and in poor condition. Blue ash were largely ignored by EAB and >80% were alive and healthy in 2022, with few signs of larval feeding. Asian F. chinensis grew well until infestation became apparent in 2019 and by 2022, 87% were dead. Annual radial growth did not differ among Chinese, green, and white ash, which averaged 4.6±0.4, 4.1±0.3 and 3.6±0.2 mm per year, respectively, but blue ash grew more slowly, averaging 2.5±0.2 mm per year.