Dutch elm disease

This article is about the disease affecting elm trees. For the economic phenomenon, see Dutch disease.

Dutch elm disease
On a golden elm with characteristic leaf shedding
Common namesDED
Causal agentsOphiostoma ulmi
Ophiostoma himal-ulmi
Ophiostoma novo-ulmi
Hostselm trees
Vectorselm bark beetle
EPPO CodeCERAUL
DistributionEurope, North America and New Zealand

Dutch elm disease (DED) is caused by a member of the sac fungi (Ascomycota) affecting elm trees, and is spread by elm bark beetles. Believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease was accidentally introduced into America, Europe, and New Zealand. In these regions it has devastated native populations of elms that did not have resistance to the disease. The name "Dutch elm disease" refers to its identification in 1921 and later in the Netherlands by Dutch phytopathologists Bea Schwarz and Christine Buisman, who both worked with professor Johanna Westerdijk.[1][2] The disease affects species in the genera Ulmus and Zelkova, therefore it is not specific to the Dutch elm hybrid.[3][4][5]

  1. ^ Schwarz, M.B. (1922). "Das Zweigsterben der Ulmen, Trauerweiden und Pfirsichbaume". Mededelingen Phytopathologisch Laboratorium, Willie Commelin Scholten. 5: 1–73.
  2. ^ Buisman, C. (1928). "De oorzaak van de iepenziekte". Tijdschr Ned Heidemaatsch. 40: 338–345.
  3. ^ "Dutch elm disease in Britain". UK Forestry Commission. Archived from the original on 9 March 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2007.
  4. ^ Dutch Elm Disease. Macmillan Science Library. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. ^ Smalley, EB (1963). "Seasonal fluctuations in susceptibility of young elm seedlings to Dutch elm disease". Phytopathology. 53 (7): 846–853.