Different Responses in Vascular Traits between Dutch Elm Hybrids with a Contrasting Tolerance to Dutch Elm Disease

The ascomycetous fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi is the causative agent of the current Dutch elm disease (DED) pandemic, which has ravaged many tens of millions of European and North American elm trees. Host responses in vascular traits were studied in two Dutch elm hybrids, ‘Groeneveld’ and ‘Dodoens’, which show different vascular architecture in the secondary xylem and possess contrasting tolerances to DED. ‘Groeneveld’ trees, sensitive to DED, possessed a high number of small earlywood vessels. However, these trees showed a poor response to DED infection for the earlywood vascular characteristi... Mehr ...