A new generation of elm trees could be equipped to beat the disease that killed the parents

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — New generations of elm trees may possess the ability to withstand the disease that wiped out their ancestors. The very illness that has claimed millions of American elms in the U.S. is now being harnessed to restore the iconic trees.

In Vermont, Leila Wilson, a research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service, is spearheading an effort to combat Dutch elm disease, which has claimed tens of millions of elm trees over the past century. Scientists from the Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy Vermont tested 6,000 young elm trees with the disease spores this summer to assess their resistance. The survivors will be integrated into a breeding program aimed at cultivating disease-tolerant elm trees with enhanced genetic diversity.

These young elms will eventually be used in restoration efforts in forests, riverbanks, and backyards. ”We will place those newly propagated trees into a seed orchard, essentially a large fenced area, where they will grow and thrive for approximately 15 years, after which they should produce seeds, which can be utilized for restoration,” Wilson explained.

The young elms were derived from a small group of a few dozen trees in the Northeast that have proven resilient to Dutch elm disease. The fungus responsible for the disease, spread by bark beetles, inhibits trees' ability to absorb water, leading to their demise. This disease has contributed to the rarity of towering elm trees exceeding 70 feet (21 meters) in New England.

The initiative to save elm trees is part of a broader endeavor in the U.S. to combat forest pests and diseases, which threaten traditional industries such as logging and damage sensitive ecosystems. Protecting American elm trees is crucial in the fight against climate change, as elms play a significant role in the hydrology of their surroundings, particularly in wet forest areas.

They can withstand flooding, endure harsh winters in the north, and act like sponges after rainfall, preventing catastrophic flooding in river systems.

Furthermore, elm trees hold cultural significance in the Northeast. Emily Powell, southern non-native invasive species coordinator for The Nature Conservancy, highlighted the trees' ubiquity in New England towns and the devastating emotional impact of their loss on communities. The elm is a symbol of lost heritage for many, especially those who recall the trees from their childhood.