1 research outputs found
Selection of elms tolerant to Dutch elm Disease in south-west Romania
Ophoiostoma novo- ulmi continues to be one of the most dangerous invasive fungi, destroying
many autochthonous elm forests and cultures throughout the world. Searching for natural genotypes
tolerant to Dutch Elm Disease (DED) is one of the main objectives of silviculturists all over the
northern hemisphere in order to save the susceptible elms and to restore their ecosystem biodiversity.
In this regard, the first trial was established between 1991 and 1994, in south-west Romania (Padurea
Verde, Timis,
oara), using three elm species (Ulmus minor, U. glabra, and U. laevis) with 38 provenances.
A local strain of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi was used to artificially inoculate all elm variants and the DED
evolution was observed. Furthermore, in 2018–2021 the trial was inventoried to understand the local
genotype reaction to DED in the local environmental conditions after almost 30 years. The outcomes
of the present study proved the continuous presence of the infections in the comparative culture
and its proximity, but the identified pathogen had a new hybrid form (found for the first time in
Romania) between O. novo-ulmi ssp. Americana x O. novo-ulmi ssp. novo-ulmi. Wych elm (U. glabra)
was extremely sensitive to DED: only 12 trees (out of 69 found in 2018) survived in 2021, and only
one tree could be selected according to the adopted health criteria (resistance and vigour). The field
elm (U. minor) was sensitive to the pathogen, but there were still individuals that showed good health
status and growth. In contrast, the European white elm (U. laevis) proved constant tolerance to DED:
only 15% had been found dead or presented severe symptoms of dieback. Overall, the results of
this study report the diverse reactions of the Romanian regional elm genotypes to DED over the last
three decades, providing promising perspectives for improving the presence of elms in the forest
ecosystems of the Carpathian basin