Why are the Penn State elms dying?
More than 15 percent of the Penn State elms are infected by elm yellows disease, a deadly bacteria-like infection for which there is no known cure. The bacteria-like organism infects the root cells and the inner bark that carries nutrients to all parts of the tree, but does not invade the core of the tree. The disease essentially prevents the tree from receiving adequate nourishment, ultimately killing it. Once a tree dies, so does the whitebanded elm leafhopper, leaving the elm wood unaffected. To read more, click here.
