elm phloem necrosis

Elm phloem necrosis, also known as elm yellows, is a serious disease affecting elm trees, particularly in North America. This condition is characterized by a yellowish discoloration and degeneration of the phloem, the plant tissue responsible for transporting sugars.12

The disease is typically fatal and is transmitted by leafhoppers, such as Scaphoideus luteolus. Symptoms include wilting, yellowing leaves, and eventual death of the root system. While Dutch elm disease is a more widely known fungal disease affecting elms, elm phloem necrosis is another significant threat to these trees. Some elm species exhibit resistance to these diseases.134