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[Motivation] Trait variation within species can reveal plastic and/or genetic responses to environmental gradients, and may indicate where local adaptation has occurred. Here, we present a dataset of rangewide variation in leaf traits from seven of the most ecologically and economically important tree species in Europe. Sample collection and trait assessment are embedded in the GenTree project (EU-Horizon 2020), which aims at characterizing the genetic and phenotypic variability of forest tree species to optimize the management and sustainable use of forest genetic resources. Our dataset captures substantial intra- and interspecific leaf phenotypic variability, and provides valuable information for studying the relationship between ecosystem functioning and trait variability of individuals, and the response and resilience of species to environmental changes., [Main types of variable contained] We chose morphological and chemical characters linked to trade-offs between acquisition and conservation of resources and water use, namely specific leaf area, leaf size, carbon and nitrogen content and their ratio, and the isotopic signature of stable isotope 13C and 15N in leaves., [Spatial location and grain] We surveyed between 18 and 22 populations per species, 141 in total, across Europe., [Time period] Leaf sampling took place between 2016 and 2017., [Major taxa and level of measurement] We sampled at least 25 individuals in each population, 3,569 trees in total, and measured traits in 35,755 leaves from seven European tree species, i.e. the conifers Picea abies, Pinus pinaster and Pinus sylvestris, and the broadleaves Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica, Populus nigra and Quercus petraea., [Software format] The data files are in ASCII text, tab delimited, not compressed., All authors acknowledge support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement no. 676876 (Project GenTree). Laboratory work was also supported by other projects: COMEDIAS (CGL2017- 83170-R, Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities), REMEDINAL IV (TE-CM S2018/EMT-4338, Project of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain), SPONFOREST (BIODIVERSA-3, PCIN-2016-055), and International Laboratory of Global Change (LINCGlobal 4540-143AP). The Swiss contribution was supported by the Swiss Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) under contract no. 6.0032. BC was funded by a Scholarship from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES (Brazil).

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 sequencing. The genome assembled into a single DNA sequence of 504,715 bp in length containing 58 genes with predicted function, including 35 protein-coding, 20 tRNA and three rRNA genes. Additionally, 23 putative protein-coding genes were predicted supported by RNA-Seq data. Aiming at the development of taxon-specific mitochondrial genetic markers, the tool SNPtax was developed and applied to select genic SNPs potentially specific for different taxa within the Fagales. Further validation of a small SNP set resulted in the development of four CAPS markers specific for Fagus, Fagaceae, or Fagales, respectively, when considering over 100 individuals from a total of 69 species of deciduous trees and conifers from up to 15 families included in the marker validation. The CAPS marker set is suitable to identify the genus Fagus in DNA samples from tree tissues or wood products, including wood composite products.

The dataset presented here was collected by the GenTree project (EU-Horizon 2020), which aims to improve the use of forest genetic resources across Europe by better understanding how trees adapt to their local environment. This dataset of individual tree-core characteristics including ring-width series and whole-core wood density was collected for seven ecologically and economically important European tree species: silver birch (Betula pendula), European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Norway spruce (Picea abies), European black poplar (Populus nigra), maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and sessile oak (Quercus petraea). Tree-ring width measurements were obtained from 3600 trees in 142 populations and whole-core wood density was measured for 3098 trees in 125 populations. This dataset covers most of the geographical and climatic range occupied by the selected species. The potential use of it will be highly valuable for assessing ecological and evolutionary responses to environmental conditions as well as for model development and parameterization, to predict adaptability under climate change scenarios., Measurement(s)growth ring • wood densityTechnology Type(s)measuring table • calculationFactor Type(s)tree speciesSample Characteristic - OrganismBetula pendula • Fagus sylvatica • Picea abies • Populus nigra • Pinus pinaster • Pinus sylvestris • Quercus petraeaSample Characteristic - LocationEurope Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.11294993

The dataset presented here was collected by the GenTree project (EU-Horizon 2020), which aims to improve the use of forest genetic resources across Europe by better understanding how trees adapt to their local environment. This dataset of individual tree-core characteristics including ring-width series and whole-core wood density was collected for seven ecologically and economically important European tree species: silver birch (Betula pendula), European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Norway spruce (Picea abies), European black poplar (Populus nigra), maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and sessile oak (Quercus petraea). Tree-ring width measurements were obtained from 3600 trees in 142 populations and whole-core wood density was measured for 3098 trees in 125 populations. This dataset covers most of the geographical and climatic range occupied by the selected species. The potential use of it will be highly valuable for assessing ecological and evolutionary responses to environmental conditions as well as for model development and parameterization, to predict adaptability under climate change scenarios. Measurement(s) growth ring • wood density Technology Type(s) measuring table • calculation Factor Type(s) tree species Sample Characteristic - Organism Betula pendula • Fagus sylvatica • Picea abies • Populus nigra • Pinus pinaster • Pinus sylvestris • Quercus petraea Sample Characteristic - Location Europe Published

Because of their monoculture and even-aged plantation character, often highly mechanized harvesting methods and very short rotation cycles for a woody plant crop, the functions of short rotation coppices (SRC) with regard to biodiversity are often thought to be limited. The surprisingly large number studies conducted yielded varying, in some aspects inconclusive results. Most studies and reviews conducted so far concluded that only SRC in the establishment phase after planting are of particular value for biodiversity and nature conservation. In order to achieve a better understanding of biodiversity functions of SRC with the potential to be generalized, we conducted a meta study combining existing ground beetle data from 14 projects with a total of 73 plots from SRC in West Central Europe (Germany) and Czechia. The results show that SRC not only have benefits for biodiversity by providing endangered pioneer species an ephemeral pioneer habitat (particularly during the establishment phase of the SRC), but also do so at the fringes like their edges and in clearings where trees failed to properly establish. A second function for biodiversity conservation is that of providing strict forest species of limited dispersal ability with habitat corridors, which is the case particularly in older, long-existing SRC. The age of the plantation is much more important for this funtion than the length of the rotation intervals. The two conservation benefits which SRC can have are completely different, but can complement each other. In multifunctional landscapes which aim to maintain open field biodiversity and cultivate forest biodiversity at the same time, a stronger consideration of SRC need not be a threat but can be a valuable ingredient in the land use mix.

Research Highlights: This research provides a firm basis for understanding the improved aspen hybrid performance that aims at facilitating optimal clone selection for industrial application. Background and Objectives: Rapid growth and wood properties make aspen (Populus tremula L.) suitable for the production of pulp and paper. We assessed the potential of tree improvement through hybridization to enhance aspen productivity in northern Poland, and investigated the effects of Populus tremula hybridization with Populus tremuloides Michaux and Populus alba L. on the growth and cellulosic pulp properties for papermaking purposes. Materials and Methods: A common garden trial was utilized that included 15 hybrid aspen clones of P. tremula &times, P. tremuloides, four of P. tremula &times, P. alba, and one, previously tested P. tremula clone. Clones of P. tremula, plus trees from wild populations, were used as a reference. Tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured after growing seasons four through seven. At seven years of age, the three clones representing all species combinations were harvested, and their cellulosic pulp properties and paper sheet characteristics were assessed. Results: The clones from wild populations exhibited the poorest growth. In contrast, the clone &lsquo, W&auml, 13&prime, (P. tremula &times, P. tremuloides) demonstrated the highest DBH, height, volume production, and mean annual increment (MAI) (25.4 m3 ha&minus, 1 yr&minus, 1). The MAI ratio calculated for interspecific crosses ranged from 1.35- to 1.42-fold, higher than that for the P. tremula. Chemical properties of pulp, fiber morphology, and the physical properties of paper sheets were more desirable for interspecific hybrid clones than those for the pure P. tremula clone. Conclusions: The results indicated that plantations of hybrid aspen may constitute an important additional source of wood for pulp and paper products in Poland. Our findings further suggested that the standard rotation of these trees may be reduced from 40 to 20 years, increasing overall biomass yield and enhancing atmospheric carbon sequestration.

The functions of short rotation coppices (SRC) with regard to biodiversity are often thought to be limited because of the monoculture and even-aged plantation character, highly mechanized harvesting methods and short rotation cycles. Of the many studies conducted there are varying results, though most concluded that only very young SRC in the establishment phase are of particular value for species protection. For a better evaluation of biodiversity functions of SRC with the potential to be generalized, we conducted a meta study combining existing data from 14 projects with a total of 73 plots from SRC in Central Europe (Germany and Czechia), using ground beetles (Carabidae). Ground beetles are a speciose and well-studied family, with a long tradition as indicators of several aspects of biodiversity because of their diverse habitat requirements and species traits. Results show that SRC not only provide benefits for biodiversity by providing endangered pioneer species an ephemeral pioneer habitat (particularly during the establishment phase of the SRC), but also at the fringes. A second function is that of providing strict forest species of limited dispersal ability with habitat corridors, which is the case particularly in older, long-existing SRC. Age of the plantation is much more important in this regard than the length of the rotation intervals. In the future, multifunctional landscapes which aim to maintain open fields and cultivate forest biodiversity would benefit from a stronger consideration of SRC.

Forstpflanzenzuchtung wird erst seit Beginn des letzten Jahrhunderts betrieben. Auch wenn in der Forstpflanzenzuchtung dieselben Methoden wie in der landwirtschaftlichen Zuchtung angewendet werden, bedingt die deutlich langere Generationszeit der Baume, dass ein Zuchtungserfolg erst nach mehreren Jahrzehnten uberpruft werden kann. Schwerpunkte der Forstpflanzenzuchtung sind die Steigerung der Wuchsleistung, die Verbesserung der Holzqualitat und die Erhohung der Resistenz gegen Gefahrdungen aller Art.

The European beech (Fagus sylvatica) is one of the most important and widespread tree species in Central Europe and is widely managed for its valuable hard wood. We assembled and characterized the ...

This study investigated the intraspecific variability of frost hardiness of Fagus sylvatica. We tested for local adaptation by relating the frost hardiness of different provenances to the climatic conditions at the populations’ origin and searched for genetic markers that coincided with frost hardiness. Twenty provenances of F. sylvatica were selected covering the major part of the climatic gradient within the species’ range. Frost hardiness was assessed in winter and tested in a climate test chamber by exposing buds to different freezing temperatures and estimating LT 50-values by the electrolyte leakage method. Additionally, the genotypes of all investigated provenances were analyzed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting. The frost hardiness differed up to 10.3 K between provenances. In contrast to our expectation, we did not find any relationship between LT 50 and climate variables. Although the populations were not well differentiated by AFLP markers, the first PCoA axis of all loci of seven different primers was strongly related to LT 50-values. Linear regressions showed that frost hardiness could be predicted from the presence/absence of 12 loci. The high intraspecific variation in frost hardiness revealed a high potential of this species to different climates. The ability to withstand low temperatures was neither related to the species’ phylogeography, nor to the current climatic conditions of provenances. This points to a more recent evolution of frost hardiness and points to a link of frost hardiness to other characteristics (e.g., drought tolerance), which might have been subjected to other selection pressures than low temperatures.

How temperate forests will respond to climate change is uncertain; projections range from severe decline to increased growth. We conducted field tests of sessile oak (Quercus petraea), a widespread keystone European forest tree species, including more than 150,000 trees sourced from 116 geographically diverse populations. The tests were planted on 23 field sites in six European countries, in order to expose them to a wide range of climates, including sites reflecting future warmer and drier climates. By assessing tree height and survival, our objectives were twofold: (1) to identify the source of differential population responses to climate (genetic differentiation due to past divergent climatic selection versus plastic responses to ongoing climate change), (2) to explore which climatic variables (temperature or precipitation) trigger the population responses. Tree growth and survival were modeled for contemporary climate and then projected using data from four regional climate models for years 2071-2100, using two greenhouse gas concentration trajectory scenarios each. Overall results indicated a moderate response of tree height and survival to climate variation, with changes in dryness (either annual or during the growing season) explaining the major part of the response. Whilst, on average, populations exhibited local adaptation, there was significant clinal population differentiation for height growth with winter temperature at the site of origin. The most moderate climate model (HIRHAM5-EC; rcp4.5) predicted minor decreases in height and survival, whilst the most extreme model (CCLM4-GEM2-ES; rcp8.5) predicted large decreases in survival and growth for southern and southeastern edge populations (Hungary and Turkey). Other non-marginal populations with continental climates were predicted to be severely and negatively affected (Bercé, France), while populations at the contemporary northern limit (colder and humid maritime regions; Denmark and Norway) will probably not show large changes in growth and survival in response to climate change.

The phenology of many woody plants is controlled by an interaction of chilling requirements, photoperiod and temperature forcing. Predictions of leaf unfolding and connected ecosystem processes in global warming should thus consider not only increasing temperatures but also require a thorough understanding of the cumulative effects of daylength and temperature. In the present study, bud burst of six populations of European beech was assessed at two provenance trial sites across a latitudinal gradient of 6° within two consecutive years. Significant differences in bud burst were found among populations, trial sites and observation years. If flushing was related to the temperature forcing at trials sites, populations at the southern trial required similar temperature sums in both observation years, though the average flushing date differed by 6 days. At the northern trial site, bud burst occurred approximately 14 days later, but here the trees required 43 % degree days less to reach the same flushing state. This indicates a significant effect of the photoperiod on the temperature requirement for bud burst. The flushing sequence among populations was stable across trial sites and observation years, suggesting that similar genetic pathways regulate bud burst throughout the beech distribution. Also, it indicates that the environment of the trial location rather than the genetic origin of the populations determines its reaction to increase spring temperatures in climate change. Significant interactions of the velocity of flushing were observed between populations and trial sites, but not between populations and observation years at the same site. Together with the high variation among populations, this points to local adaptations to specific temperature-photoperiod regimes, however, adaptations to local temperature forcing seem stronger than to the light conditions.

Ricinus communis ist ein nicht frostharter Baum. Der Wunderbaum ist sehr schnellwachsend und erreicht Hohen bis 13 m und Durchmesser bis zu 30 cm. Der Stamm ist grun bis braun, rotlich oder glanzend in der Jugend. Der Name Rizinus geht vermutlich auf das hebraische Wort fur rundlich zuruck, womit die Form der Samen beschrieben wurde. Der im deutschen Sprachraum auch verwendete Name Wunderbaum bezieht sich wahrscheinlich auf das schnelle Jugendwachstum der Pflanze und auf die vielseitige Verwendbarkeit des aus den Samen gewonnenen Ols. Das Holz von Rizinus wird zur Papier- und Plattenherstellung verwendet [18, 24, 49] Keywords: Ricinus vulgaris; Ricinus sanguineus; Euphorbiaceae; Rizinus; Wunderbaum; Christuspalme; Lausebaum; Kreuzbaum; Hundsbaum; Castor-oil plant; Ricin; Ricino; Higuera infernal; Khirwa'; Vorkommen; Verbreitung; Beschreibung; Habitus; Triebe; Blatter; Bluten; Fruchte

Saatgutproben von Betula platyphylla var. japonica (Herkunfte Hokkaido und Hondo, Japan) wurden im Jahre 1959 ausgesat. Die Jungpflanzen wurden ein Jahr spater in Groshansdorf/Schleswig-Holstein angepflanzt. Im Alter von 37 Jahren wurden bei einer Durchforstung 20 Baume entnommen, von denen ein unterer und ein oberer Stammabschnitt zur Untersuchung der Holzeigenschaften dienten. Fur beide Stammhohen ergab sich eine einheitliche mittlere Rohdichte von 0,60 g/cm3 im normalklimatisierten Zustand. Dagegen entspricht die Rohdichtezunahme vom Mark zum Kambium der bei anderen Birken ublichen Verteilung. Das Holz der untersuchten Baume besitzt geringere mechanische Eigenschaften, aber gunstigere Quell- und Schwindmase als das Holz europaischer Birken.

Die Reaktion von sieben Provenienzen aus dem Verbreitungsgebiet der Rotbuche (Fagus sylvatica L.) auf erhohte atmospharische CO2-Konzentrationen bei unterschiedlichem Lichtangebot wurde in einem Gewachshausversuch mit zweijahrigen Samlingen anhand der Blattentwicklung im Laufe der Vegetationsperiode sowie der Blattflache und des Blattrockengewichtes je Einzelblatt und je Pflanze am Ende der Vegetationsperiode untersucht. Die Provenienzen unterscheiden sich bereits zu Versuchsbeginn erheblich in der Wuchshohe und dementsprechend am Ende der Vegetationsperiode in der mittleren Blattanzahl und Blattmasse je Pflanze. Die Flache je Einzelblatt der verschiedenen Herkunfte ist dagegen statistisch nicht signifikant unterschieden, wohl aber die Trockenmasse und das spezifische Blattgewicht. Innerhalb der Provenienzen ist die Variation sehr unterschiedlich. Der Lichtgenus beeinflust alle untersuchten Parameter deutlich. In der hellsten Lichtstufe treiben die Pflanzen besonders fruh aus. Blattanzahl, -flache und -trockengewicht je Einzelblatt und je Pflanze nehmen mit sinkendem Lichtgenus signifikant ab. In der dunkelsten Lichtstufe sterben bereits ab Mai einzelne Pflanzen ab, wobei die verschiedenen Provenienzen unterschiedlich betroffen sind. Am Ende der Vegetationsperiode sind einzelne Herkunfte vollstandig ausgefallen, wahrend von anderen noch uber 60% der Pflanzen uberlebt haben. Die erhohte CO2-Konzentration der Luft fuhrt ebenfalls zu einer Zunahme der Blattanzahl, der-flache und des -trockengewichtes je Einzelblatt bzw. je Pflanze. Diese Reaktionen sind — ebenfalls wie ein besonders fruher Blattaustrieb — allerdings nur bei dem hochsten Lichtangebot zu beobachten, wahrend bei eingeschrankter Strahlung in der mittleren und dunklen Lichtstufe der CO2-Gehalt der Luft keine Wirkung auf diese Blatt-Parameter hat. Die spezifische Blattflache wird dagegen durch einen Anstieg der CO2-Konzentration in keinem Fall verandert. Diese Ergebnisse zeigen bereits jetzt, das bei der Beurteilung der Bedeutung kunftig veranderter Klimabedingungen unbedingt die Wechselwirkungen zwischen verschiedenen Faktoren berucksichtigt werden mussen. Die Bedeutung einer variierten Nahrstoffversorgung fur das pflanzliche Wachstum soll daher in weiteren Untersuchungen zusatzlich einbezogen werden. Um einen umfassenden Uberblick uber die Reaktion der Pflanzen auf die Anzuchtbedingungen zu erhalten, sollen ferner der pflanzliche CO2- und H2O-Gaswechsel sowie anatomisch-morphologische Untersuchungen durchgefuhrt werden.

We explored the growth response of Scots pine to temperature, precipitation, and drought focusing on eleven provenances from the IUFRO 1982 international provenance trial. At two macroclimatically different sites in Germany we measured chronologies of tree-ring widths and annual height increment. We estimated general climate/growth relationships and examined the growth response, based on tolerance indices of resistance, recovery, resilience and relative resilience, to the most severe drought event per site. Using multivariate benchmarking of provenance archetypes, we established a ranking of the individual provenances in terms of general performance. In addition to considerable differences in overall growth between provenances, growth metrics differed between sites which were mostly attributable to climate. Basal area increment depended mainly on water availability from May to July, whereas annual height growth was influenced by moisture deficit during May of the current year. The reaction to drought events was shown to depend on the timing and duration of the drought event. Differences between provenances in resistance were modest, but more pronounced for recovery and especially for resilience and relative resilience. The results indicate a better adaptation to drought of the provenance from Bosnia Herzegovina and of local German provenances compared to other provenances. We summarized the findings by aligning the eleven provenances between two multivariately defined archetypes, one of which represented best general performance defined by good overall growth, low climate sensitivity and high resilience to drought. This approach confirmed the superior performance of the local German populations. Provenances from France and Poland were ranked above average whereas northern provenances and that from Bosnia Herzegovina were found to be least suitable at the sites under investigation. Our results clearly demonstrate the importance of considering provenance in the discussion about future adaptedness and adaptability of tree species under climate change scenarios.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is an economically very important and scientifically well investigated tree species of the northern hemisphere occupying large areas with different climate condition in Eurasia. It has been in the focus of tree improvement since many decades. Breeding programmes were initiated with selection of plus trees, establishment of seed orchards and progeny testing in nearly all countries where this species is of economic importance. Today these programmes are developed very differently. There are countries with advanced programmes for improvement of Scots pine and others were such programmes were stopped in the last years. In this chapter the situation of breeding of Scots pine is described for different European countries. Short overviews are given about the distribution of Scots pine, its genetic diversity, the wood production and the state of forest reproductive material of this species in Europe.

European larch (Larix decidua) is a native species from the Alps and from several mountainous ranges in Central Europe. Its early introduction outside its native range, especially in lowlands western and northern Europe has been problematic for ecological (phenology) and sanitary (canker) reasons due to the lack of knowledge of its genetic variability. As a substitute, Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) and then hybrids between European and Japanese larches have been preferred in these regions together with Siberian larches in northern Scandinavia. Results from intensive provenances testing (as early as in the 1940s) have been the corner stone on which breeding programmes have developed both at the intra- (mostly in Central and Eastern Europe) and inter-specific (mostly in North-Western Europe) levels. Inter-specific hybridization is probably the most emblematic and promising breeding strategy for larch, taking benefit of both species trait complementarity, hybrid vigour (heterosis) and hybrid homeostasis. While seed orchards are now the main source for dissemination of genetic progress for European larch, mass-production of hybrid larch remains problematic either through sexual (hybridization seed orchard) or asexual (vegetative propagation by cutting) ways and still impedes large deployment of hybrids in Europe. While progress is expected from current research on this topic (coupling of somatic embryogenesis with bulk vegetative propagation by cutting, 2nd generation hybridization orchard), other hot issues include decoding of heterosis, evaluation of genetic variability for the most original larch wood properties (heartwood formation and durability), adaptation to climate, etc. Joined efforts at European level are expected for genetic resource conservation, breeding and deployment, and tackling of several scientific and technical bottlenecks.

Saatgutproben von Betula maximowicziana (Herkunfte von Hokkaido und Hondo, Japan) wurden im Jahre 1959 ausgesat und die Jungpflanzen ein Jahr spater in Groshansdorf/Schleswig-Holstein ausgepflanzt. Im Alter von 35 Jahren wurden 20 Baume eingeschlagen, von denen ein unterer und ein oberer Stammabschnitt zur Untersuchung der Holzeigenschaften dienten. Die Ergebnisse der Rohdichte, der Elastizitatsmoduln, der Festigkeiten, der Bruchschlagarbeit und der Harte werden angegeben. Daraus last sich-mit allem Vorbehalt, der bei der Untersuchung von Holz eines Standortes und eines Baumalters erforderlich ist-folgern, das das Holz der Maximowicz-Birke in seinen technologischen Eigenschaften nicht von dem der beiden europaischen Birken (B. pendula und B. pubescens) abweicht.

Genetic diversity among 51 isolates of the mycoparasite Sphaerellopsisfilurn from Melampsora rusts on willow and poplar was examined using AFLP. Genetic variation was relatively low among the isolates (Nei & Li's similarities >= 90). Genetic diversity calculated using Shannon index was 0.119 at Loughgall, Northern Ireland, 0.109 at Markington, northern England, 0.039 at Craibstone, Scotland, and 0.015 at Long Ashton, southwest England. At Long Ashton, 14 out of 16 isolates shared the same AFLP bands. Two genotypes were found at both Markington and Loughgall. The low genetic diversity and a high rate of clonality suggested that asexual reproduction plays a major role in S. filum epidemics. Sequence information was also obtained from the ITS-5.8S region of the ribosomal DNA from the S. filum isolates derived from willow and poplar rusts and six isolates derived from other sources. ITS sequences were identical among all the 51 isolates from willow and poplar rusts. ITS analysis placed S. filum isolates from Melampsora spp. on willow and poplar, Puccinia coronata on grass and Melampsora sp. on Euphorbia sp. into one clade and the isolates from blackberry rust Phragmidium violaceum and larch rust Triphragmiopsis laricinum into another. Nucleotide sequence differences between the two groups were 8.4-10.4 %. The ITS-5.8S sequences obtained in this study were compared with those deposited in the GenBank database. (c) 2006 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.