Dear Forest-entoids: My pathologist colleague Michelle Cleary asked me to post this message below about her IUFRO Congress Session on our list. -Sandy Liebhold

For everyone who works on topics related to biosecurity risks associated with tree seeds, we are inviting you to submit an abstract for oral/poster presentation at IUFRO 2024 World Congress (Stockholm, Sweden, June 23-29, 2024; https://iufro2024.com/).

Session title: The biosecurity risks of international movement of tree seeds

Session number: T1.32

Session organizers: Iva Franić (SLU, Sweden), Ana Perez-Sierra (Forest Research, UK), Marie-Anne Auger-Rozenberg (URZF INRAE, France), Thomas Boivin (URFM INRAE, France), Michelle Cleary (SLU, Sweden), David Kolotelo (BC Provincial Tree Seed Centre, Canada), Olle Rosenberg (Skogforsk, Sweden)

Session Description: Tree seeds have been considered as a minor introduction pathway for pests (i.e., insects and fungi) in comparison with seedlings. Consequently, tree seeds are often exempt from the existing restrictions that aim to mitigate the risk of pest introductions, although the regulations vary across countries. Tree seeds have shown to carry pests that may pose immense danger to natural forests and nursery stock with consequences to forest biodiversity and state’s economy. Some tree seed pests may be biologically predisposed as good invaders because they can stay dormant for long periods of time while showing no signs of presence in seeds and thus easily stay unnoticed during inspections. This however might differ between insects and fungi, and between pests specialized on angiosperm and gymnosperm hosts. Although the risks of pest introductions via seed movements seem to be significant, there is a lack of knowledge required for a proper risk assessment, especially when considering the changes in the global trade volumes, routes as well as the impacts of climate change. This session aims at gathering contributions from entomologists, phytopathologists and other seed specialists working with gymnosperm and angiosperm seeds that might help to improve the assessment of the biosecurity risks associated with seed trade. More specifically, we aim at covering topics related to: volumes and directions of international tree seed movements, international legislation for tree seed exchange, the diversity of tree seed pests, tools and methods for their detection, as well as the topics related to different aspects of the ecology of tree seed pests that might be relevant for their introduction, establishment and spread/impact in times of global change.

Abstracts can be submitted at https://iufro2024.com/call-for-congress-abstracts/ until June 2, 2023.

We are looking forward to receiving your abstracts and meeting you in Stockholm!

Kind regards,

Session organizers.