The tree disease known as elm yellows appears to have claimed several more elm trees on the University Park campus.
Eight campus elms overall will be cut down soon — five of them suffering elm yellows (or suspected elm yellows); two, Dutch elm disease; and one, both ailments, according to a Penn State announcement. The two tree diseases have claimed 82 elms, including the latest casualties, since 2007, the university reported.
That drops the number of University Park elms to 208, down from an estimated high of 400 about a decade ago. Crews removed an elm yellows-infected tree beside Henderson North — near the Peace Garden — on Thursday.
‘It is, unfortunately, necessary to remove infected trees, which pose a significant threat to the healthy ones,’ campus grounds-maintenance supervisor Jeff Dice said in a news release. ‘In some cases, deterioration of the infected trees has been rapid. Once infected, they cannot recover, and the disease can spread from tree to tree.’
Dutch elm disease has posed a threat in central Pennsylvania for more than a half-century. Elm yellows is a more recent arrival, having been first spotted in the region in 2007.
How the remaining campus elms, and other local elm trees, will withstand the assault over the long term remains to be seen. While effective preventative treatments for Dutch elm are available and widely used, a reliable approach for elm yellows has been more elusive.
University Park tree deaths attributed to elm yellows have declined, though, slipping to three in 2009 from 47 in 2008. Experts are continuing to monitor, research and treat the situation. Penn State is replacing fallen elms with trees that have stronger resistance to diseases, according to the news release.
Those elms slated for removal soon include one each at the Old Main parking lot; the intersection of West College Avenue and North Atherton Street; Patterson Building; Borland Building; the Dairy Farm House; Sigma Nu fraternity on North Burrowes Road; the intersection of East College Avenue and South Pugh Street; and Electrical Engineering West.
More details are available through the university’s official news site.
Earlier coverage: Penn State, State College Elms Withstand Lethal Tree DiseasePenn State finds revenue in dying elm trees
