COLUMBUS, Ohio – With fears that Emerald ash borer will decimate the nation's ash tree population, efforts are underway to save the species through seed collection and preservation. Ohio State University Extension Franklin County Master Gardeners will sponsor a free presentation on how this process works and how the public can participate.
The presentation, "National Ash Seed Collection Initiative," will be held on August 4 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in 103 Kottman Hall on Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences campus in Columbus.
The National Ash Seed Collection Initiative collects and stores ash seeds in cryogenic vaults at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colo. Volunteers play a big role in collecting that seed.
Steve Crawford, an Earth Team volunteer with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, will discuss the National Ash Seed Collection Initiative and demonstrate the collection process.
Emerald ash borer, introduced to the United States in 2001, has killed nearly 30 million ash trees in nine states, and in Canada.
For more information, contact Franklin County Master Gardeners at (614) 247-6046 or e-mail Cory Skurdal at skurdal.1@osu.edu.