Pathogenicity and cerato-ulmin production in Ceratocystis ulmi.

Abstract

THE recognition of aggressive strains of Ceratocystis ulmi associated with the epidemic of Dutch elm disease in Britain directed attention to the importance of variation in the pathogenicity of the causal fungus1,2. British workers3,4 have provided evidence of a correlation between pathogenicity and certain cultural characters such as colony appearance and growth rate. Here I describe a correlation between pathogenicity of certain strains of C. ulmi and the production of a metabolite named cerato-ulmin which, when introduced to elm seedlings, is capable of producing many of the symptoms of the disease.