Could we prevent Dutch elm disease by cloning resistant trees?

Praveen Saxena, a University of Guelph researcher, is searching for elm trees that have proven to be high resistant or highly tolerant to Dutch elm disease.

If resistant trees can be found, they could be used in a tree breeding program designed to produce Dutch elm disease resistant seedlings.

It is estimated that one in every 100,000 elm trees has a natural resistance to Dutch elm disease.

American elm trees used to line many urban streets until the 1970's when Dutch elm disease wiped many of them out.

Read more:

Scientists Use Cloning to Overcome Dutch Elm Disease (University of Guelph)

Second chance for the American elm (The Globe and Mail)

Cloned tree could prevent Dutch elm disease (CBC)

Praveen K. Saxena (University of Guelph)