Influence of water stress on Dutch elm disease symptoms in Ulmus minor

The response of Ulmus minor Miller to Dutch elm disease was observed under combined heavy and light watering regimes. Ramets of two clones, planted in pots, were divided into two groups and each group underwent a different watering regime: heavy initial watering followed by light watering and light initial watering followed by heavy watering. The changeover in watering took place on May 29, 1998, 15 days after plants had been inoculated with a Ophiostoma novo-ulmi Brasier spore suspension. Greater wilting was evident in elms subjected to the heavy initial watering followed by light watering regime than those subjected to light initial watering followed by heavy watering. Non-inoculated plants subjected to heavy initial watering followed by light watering developed large vessel diameters during the heavy watering period and showed approximately 20% wilting during the light watering period. Non-inoculated plants subjected to light initial watering followed by heavy watering developed vessels with smaller diameters during the light watering period, and showed no wilting. The evidence suggests that large vessel formation prior to inoculation associated with water stress after infection increases Dutch elm disease symptoms. The role of water stress in the development of Dutch elm disease symptoms and the implications for elm resistance and breeding are discussed.