The pathogen causing Dutch elm disease makes host trees attract insect vectors
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| Authors: | McLeod, G; Gries, R; von Reuss, SH; Rahe, JE; McIntosh, R; Konig, WA; Gries, G |
| Year: | 2005 |
| Journal: | Proc Roy Soc B-Biol Sci 272: 2499-2503 |
| Title: | The pathogen causing Dutch elm disease makes host trees attract insect vectors |
| Abstract: | Dutch elm disease is caused by the fungal pathogen Ophiostoma novo-ulmi which is transmitted by the native elm bark beetle, Hylurgopinus rufipes. We have found that four semiochemicals (the monoterpene (-)- beta-pinene and the sesquiterpenes (-)-alpha-cubebene, (+)-spiroaxa-5,7-diene and (+)-delta-cadinene) from diseased American elms, Ulmus americana, synergistically attract H. rufipes, and that sesquiterpene emission is upregulated in elm trees inoculated with O. novo-ulmi. The fungus thus manipulates host trees to enhance their apparency to foraging beetles, a strategy that increases the probability of transportation the pathogen to new hosts. |
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