Elms and Dutch elm disease: a quick overview

Abstract

In the 1930s Dutch elm disease (DED) was accidentally introduced from Europe into the United States. It had a devastating impact on American elm (Ulmus americana) and its relatives in urban and riparian environments. In the United States, the three-part pathosystem for DED is unique in that the affected elm species are North American, the pathogen originated in Asia, and the most common vector is a European beetle. Of the nearly 40 species of elms that span the globe from Asia to Europe to North America, European and North American species are the most DED susceptible. The disease outbreak was extremely costly and the scientific and regulatory reaction to the issue was interrupted by World War II, which allowed the disease to spread more rapidly (Campanella 2003).

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the American elm restoration workshop 2016

Citation

Marcotrigiano, Michael. 2017. Elms and Dutch elm disease: a quick overview. In: Pinchot, Cornelia C.; Knight, Kathleen S.; Haugen, Linda M.; Flower, Charles E.; Slavicek, James M., eds. Proceedings of the American elm restoration workshop 2016; 2016 October 25-27; Lewis Center, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-174. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 2-5.