The pathogen causing Dutch elm disease makes host trees attract insect vectors

Proc Biol Sci. 2005 Dec 7;272(1580):2499-503. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3202.

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 of the pathogen to new hosts.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ascomycota*
  • Bicyclic Monoterpenes
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / metabolism*
  • Chemotactic Factors / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Coleoptera / microbiology
  • Coleoptera / physiology*
  • Insect Vectors / microbiology
  • Insect Vectors / physiology*
  • Monoterpenes / metabolism*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Sesquiterpenes / metabolism*
  • Ulmus / metabolism*
  • Ulmus / microbiology

Substances

  • Bicyclic Monoterpenes
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds
  • Chemotactic Factors
  • Monoterpenes
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • beta-pinene