This scoping study by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was conducted to explore the development of a project to find and propagate mature elm ‘survivors’ from areas severely impacted by Dutch elm disease.

Dutch elm disease (DED) is caused by two related fungi which are spread by bark beetles and it has devastated all elm species over the last century. Elm trees typically become susceptible to the disease at around 15-20 years old. Whilst it’s progressed slowly northward through Scotland, the disease is now present in many parts of the northeastern Highlands and is advancing westward. Although all elms are vulnerable to DED, it is thought that a few may possess genetic resistance to the pathogen. Mature wych elms that survive in areas affected by DED are of interest for their potential resilience to the pathogen and their importance to the many species that depend upon them.

Outcomes

The study’s report concluded that the clonal propagation of these trees to preserve potentially valuable genetic diversity and feasibly increase resilience to Dutch elm disease shoudl be pursued. RBGE has since increased their efforts to breed a new generation of seedlings, some of which have been transferred to Affric in a joint RBGE and University of the Highlands and Islands project.