Ophiostoma novoulmi

Ophiostoma novo-ulmi is a species of fungus in the family Ophiostomataceae. It is one of the key causative agents associated with Dutch Elm Disease (DED), along with Ophiostoma ulmi and Ophiostoma himal-ulmi. Dutch Elm Disease was first identified in Europe during the early 1900s and by the 1940s the disease had spread throughout Europe and into the United States and Canada. Elm trees (Ulmus) were heavily used as a trade commodity in logging practices in the late 1800s-1900s. Historically, these trees have seen widespread use as a building material in products such as wheels, chairs, ships, and coffins. Wood from Ulmus trees has been favored for building due to the trees' ability to withstand prolonged exposure to water without rotting. The adaptability of this tree along with its multitude of applications for building opened up its demand in trading. It has been determined that Ophiostoma ulmi and Ophiostoma novo-ulmi have evolved separately from each other in different regions of th......read more on Wikipedia.