Rescuing the American Elm | Minneapolis News

Minneapolis News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 23, 2026 · 1m

Scientists are deliberately infecting thousands of young American elm trees in Vermont with Dutch elm disease in a bold bid to find natural survivors—trees that can withstand the pathogen responsible for wiping out millions across North America. This project, building on decades of failed breeding efforts, aims to restore a tree once central to American landscapes, offering shade, habitat, and flood control. Early results show promising candidates, sparking hope that these resilient trees could become the foundation for a genetically diverse, disease-resistant elm population—and a powerful…