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Disease claims historic Old Main elm
For generations, nearly every image made of Penn State's iconic Old Main building -- paintings, sketches, photographs -- has included the two majestic elm trees that grace its front corners. Now elm yellows, a disease that has already claimed many American elms on the University Park campus, has so infected one of the trees that it must be removed. The University's Office of Physical Plant hopes to remove the tree during the upcoming Spring Break, weather permitting. (more)
Video: Disease-stricken matching elm tree slated for removal
For generations, nearly every image made of Penn State's iconic Old Main building -- paintings, sketches, photographs -- has included the two majestic elm trees that grace its front corners. Now elm yellows, a disease that has already claimed many American elms on the University Park campus, has so infected one of the trees that it must be removed. Weather permitting, the University's Office of Physical Plant has scheduled the removal for the week of spring break, which will minimize security risks to pedestrians. The following video acknowledges these environmental landmarks' significance across several generations of Penn Staters. (more)
Dutch elm disease forces removal of 16 more campus trees
Penn State staff and researchers have battled aggressively for years the two primary diseases threatening the landmark American elm stand on the University Park campus. A recent resurgence in one of those diseases -- Dutch elm disease, an old nemesis -- has forced the University to remove 16 elms this summer. "Diseased trees pose a significant risk to healthy one, so it is necessary, unfortunately, to remove the diseased ones," said Jeff Dice, supervisor of grounds and maintenance. "Once infected, the trees can't recover, and the disease can spread from tree to tree." (more)
As Penn State continues fight against elm diseases, new trees debut
Penn State continues to battle the two primary diseases threatening the landmark American elm trees on its University Park campus, but crews also have begun planting new varieties of trees to replace those elms lost during the past several years on the Allen Street Mall area. Workers began this week planting more than two dozen trees on the campus' historic core. The plantings include an array of shade trees that grow in Pennsylvania, including coffee trees, plane trees, bur oaks, white oaks and zelkovas. Different types of trees are being planted to guard against a future large-scale loss to disease. The two diseases facing one of the nation's oldest elm stands are Dutch elm disease, a fungal disease spread by the elm bark beetle, and a more recent syndrome known as elm yellows. (more)
Disease forces removal of nine American elms from campus
As Penn State continues to battle several diseases affecting its landmark American elm trees on the University Park campus, the University will begin the removal of nine more affected trees from campus. "It is unfortunately necessary to remove infected trees, which pose a significant risk to the healthy ones," said Jeff Dice, supervisor of grounds maintenance. "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." The two devastating diseases now facing one of the nation's oldest elm stands are Dutch elm disease, a fungal disease spread by the elm bark beetle and a more recent syndrome known as elm yellows. (more)
University turns downed trees into treasured keepsakes
Tuesday, July 13, 2010Penn State's ongoing effort to suppress the Dutch Elm and Elm Yellows diseases is seeing success, as many of the trees on the University Park campus remain healthy. However, despite the effort's overall success, some of Penn State's majestic elms have succumbed to disease. The University is preserving the wood from its fallen elms, some of which graced the campus for nearly 100 years, in a new line of furniture and picture frames now available to Penn State alumni. (more)
Video: Saving elm trees from disease takes persistent, hopeful effort
Determining how to save Penn State's elm trees is an ongoing collaboration between University researchers and groundskeepers. Capturing disease-carrying insects to study them has been an elusive task, but researchers believe existing efforts to prevent Dutch elm disease may be a clue to keeping the landmark trees safe from elm yellows. (more)
Penn State continues efforts to control spread of elm yellows disease
Elm yellows, a disease affecting Penn State's landmark American elm trees on the University Park campus and previously thought to have the ability to decimate the majestic trees, may be isolated. (more)
Still Life: Elm tree removed near Deike Building
A tree crew from Penn State's Office of Physical Plant removed an American elm tree at the south end of Deike Building on the University Park campus in November 2008. The tree was infected with elm yellows, a bacteria-like disease for which there is no known cure or control. See a Still Life of photos at http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/1886 online. (more)
Web site, videos discuss significance of Penn State elm trees, disease
Penn State's landmark elm trees are in danger of disappearing. Elm yellows disease, a deadly bacteria-like infection for which there is no known cure, already has infected more than 15 percent of the approximately 290 trees at University Park. A Web site celebrating the tradition, beauty and history of the elms offers photos, videos and other information at http://elmyellows.psu.edu. Visitors to the site are invited and encouraged to post comments, such as reactions to the site's content and memories about the landmark trees. (more)
Still Life: Elm yellows press conference, Nov. 6, 2008
Thursday, November 06, 2008On Nov. 6, 2008, Penn State held a press conference to announce the results of extensive testing on the University Park campus' American elm tree population for elm yellows disease. See a Still Life of photos at http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/1872 online. (more)
Tests show elm yellows disease still threatens campus trees
Thursday, November 06, 2008The American elm trees on Penn State's University Park campus face a battle for their lives. Recent tests have detected elm yellows disease, a deadly bacteria-like infection for which there is no known cure, in 47 of the campus' approximately 290 elms, according to Bill Mahon, vice president of University relations. University experts first identified elm yellows in a handful of campus elms last fall. "Test results show that elm yellows is progressing a bit more slowly than we had initially feared, but the situation is still serious." Mahon said. "There is no known way to absolutely halt the spread of the disease from tree to tree, or to cure trees that have become infected." A Web site celebrating the tradition, beauty and history of the elms offers photos, videos and other information at http://elmyellows.psu.edu online. (more)
Penn State prepares for 'elm yellows' disease
While Dutch elm disease has posed the major ongoing threat to elms in the Centre Region over the last half-century, another disease, elm yellows, is moving into Centre County, bringing with it the potential for a major impact on American elms at Penn State's University Park campus and the surrounding area. Long known for its majestic elms, the University Park campus is home to one of the most mature remaining elm stands in the country. The elms are considered a landmark on the campus and the University has long maintained a commitment to preserving the elm trees through a nationally recognized elm management and preservation program. (more)
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