X-Nico

7 unusual facts about Dutch Elm Disease


August Batsch

Versuch einer Anleitung... looked into the nature of what we now know to be fungal diseases of plants (such as Dutch elm disease), but without realizing their origin.

Connected farm

Following the 20th-century outbreak of Dutch elm disease only one American elm remains of the line which provided summer shade along the southern and western sides of the building.

Croughton, Northamptonshire

An historic elm reputedly stood in the church grounds for 800 years, and although it is believed to have died of Dutch elm disease in the 1970s, its demise dates back to the early 1900s.

Embsay

It was replaced in the late 20th century due to Dutch elm disease, but in 2006 that replacement was also taken down.

Eppelsheim

Dutch elm disease, however, did not spare the Effenkranz, and between 1976 and 1981, all elms had to be felled, and they were replaced with 550 other trees.

Multistriatin

Males beetles, which carry the fungus which causes Dutch elm disease, are attracted to the pheromone.

The Backs

In response to many elm trees succumbing to Dutch elm disease, a Backs Committee was formed in 1979 so that a joint approach could be taken to the problem facing The Backs.


Great Saling

With a girth of 22 feet 6 inches and a height of 40 metres, the elm was identified by the botanist R. H. Richens as an Ulmus × hollandica hybrid, before it succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s.

Scolytus multistriatus

In Europe, while S. multistriatus acts as vector of the Dutch elm disease, caused by the Ascomycota Ophiostoma ulmi, it is much less effective than the large elm bark beetle, S. scolytus.

Ulmus 'Nana'

The low height of the tree should ensure that it avoids colonization by the Scolytus bark beetles and thus remain free of Dutch elm disease.

Ulmus 'Webbiana'

Two specimens are known to survive, one in the USA and the other in the UK, the latter treated as a hedging plant to avoid the attentions of the Scolytus beetles that act as vectors of Dutch elm disease.

Ulmus alata 'Lace Parasol'

Owing to its diminutive height, the tree is unattractive to the Scolytus beetles which act as vectors of Dutch elm disease and therefore unlikely to become infected.

Ulmus americana 'Delaware'

The American Elm Ulmus americana cultivar 'Delaware' was originally selected (as tree number 218) from 35,000 seedlings inoculated with the Dutch elm disease fungus in USDA trials at Morristown, New Jersey.

Ulmus minor subsp. sarniensis 'Microphylla Pendula'

Only one specimen is known to survive, at the RBG Wakehurst Place, where it is cultivated as a hedging plant to keep it free from the attentions of the Scolytus beetles which act as vectors of Dutch elm disease.


see also

Ulmus 'Christine Buisman'

Moderately resistant to Dutch elm disease (DED), but very prone to cankers caused by Coral Spot fungus Nectria cinnabarina as it lacked resistance mechanisms.

Ulmus × hollandica 'Cinerea'

Only one living specimen is known, at Wakehurst Place, England, where it survives by being treated as a hedging plant, too low to attract the attentions of the Scolytus beetles that act as vectors of Dutch elm disease.