Cloned tree could prevent Dutch elm disease

Fredericton has a long history of battling Dutch elm disease but an Ontario university researcher is trying to clone a disease-resistant super elm tree that could permanently save the iconic trees.

New Brunswick's capital city, which is known as the City of Stately Elms, has battled the fungus that has wiped out many trees for almost 60 years.

Praveen Saxena, a University of Guelph researcher, is part of a program that is hoping to clone a disease-resistant elm.

'We hope that we will have the technology developed to clone and transplant a tree in the ground in three years or so.' Praveen Saxena, a University of Guelph researcher

"If we can find a tree that is highly tolerant or highly resistant, we can clone it rapidly and it will be ready for distribution," Saxena said.

In the 1950s, elm trees, which line many streets in downtown Fredericton, became threatened by Dutch elm disease. Since then it has decimated North America's elm tree population.

Fredericton has had a Dutch elm disease management program since 1952.

While that initiative has been successful in saving many of Fredericton's elms, there's currently no way of eradicating the fungus.

Thousands of trees lost

The city estimates that it has lost thousands of elm trees to the disease.

Fredericton routinely plants white elm trees along city streets, which are believed to be more tolerant to the tree disease.

Don Murray,Fredericton's cityforester, is watching closely all of the developments from the University of Guelph's research project.

'One thing Fredericton has never done is give up on elm trees.' Don Murray, city forester

Murray said he's hopeful that Saxena's project will lead to a breakthrough in the battle against Dutch elm disease.

"To see what they're doing in Guelph, that's promising for us," Murray said.

"I think we'll always have elms if this research continues as it's going."

The University of Guelph scientists are still several years from actually being able to have their super elm trees located in Fredericton.

"We hope that we will have the technology developed to clone and transplant a tree in the ground in three years or so," Saxena said.

"But if we were to create a tree that has resistance in it, that's a very, very long-term project.But I hope that within seven to10 years that may be possible."

Although it could be a decade before a super elm is developed, Murray said he isn't worried about the future of Fredericton's elm tree population.

"One thing Fredericton has never done is give up on elm trees," he said.