History of western white pine and blister rust in British Columbia

2009 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 516-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
North America ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Tree Resistance ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Western White Pine ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
History Of ◽  
Main Production

Blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) entered Europe about 300 years after eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) was first planted in Europe. North America imported millions of infected seedlings after blister rust was firmly established throughout Europe. Blister rust probably entered into western North America on multiple occasions and spread throughout British Columbia (BC) by about 1930. Two large saw mills solely cutting western white pine (P. monticola) started in the 1920s with the main production for matches. Blister rust surveys in the 1940s painted a poor picture for the future of western white pine in BC, so it was discriminated against in forest management plans. Harvest volumes declined and the 2 mills ceased production about 1960. Selection of resistant clones from mature parents occurred between 1948 and 1960, but when it was evident that mature tree resistance was not likely to be in their seedlings the program was terminated. A program based on screening seedlings was started in 1983. The selected seedlings are hypothesized to possess age-related resistance that is being expressed at an early age. These and the better parents are incorporated into orchards. Key words: Cronartium, white pine, surveys, match blocks, rust resistance, PR proteins

White Pine Blister Rust

2001 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otis C. Maloy
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Rust Fungus ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
Alternate Host ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Disease Cycle ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Western White Pine ◽  
Pine Stands

White pine blister rust is probably the most destructive disease of five-needle (white) pines in North America. The rust fungus cannot spread from pine to pine but requires an alternate host, Ribes species, to complete the disease cycle. Several management tools might enable the reestablishment of western white pine stands. Accepted for publication 20 September 2001. Published 24 September 2001.

Early Comparison of an Idaho and a Coastal Source of Western White Pine on Vancouver Island

1987 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Bower
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Rust Resistance ◽  
Resistance Breeding ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Pinus Monticola ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Rust Infection ◽  
Total Height ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Western White Pine

Abstract Height and survival of 11-yr-old F2 blister-rust resistant western white pine (Pinus monticola) from Idaho was compared with a locally collected seedlot from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. There were no differences in total height or survival between the two sources. Blister-rust infection of both sources was minimal. This suggests that material from Idaho could be used as an immediate source of resistant planting stock for coastal B.C., until a blister-rust resistance breeding program is producing adequate quantities of seed in B.C. West. J. App. For. 2:20-21, Jan. 1987.

scholarly journals Assessing Potential Risks of White Pine Blister Rust on Western White Pine from Increased Cultivation of Currants

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 523-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Muir ◽  
Richard S. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
Pinus Monticola ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Commercial Cultivation ◽  
Forest Practices ◽  
Western White Pine

Introductions of white pine blister rust (WPBR, causal fungus: Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fischer) to eastern and western North America before 1915 caused such extensive damage that western white pine (Pinus monticola D. Don) was essentially abandoned as a manageable forest tree species for over 60 years. Recent results from WPBR resistance selection and breeding programs, and from field trials of tree spacing, pruning and bark excision treatments have supported efforts to increase establishment and to intensively manage western white pine. Western white pine is a desirable component in many forested areas because of its faster growth and much higher value compared to many other associated tree species. It also has a low susceptibility to armillaria root disease caused by Armillaria ostoyae (Romagnesi) Herink and laminated root rot, caused by Phellinus weirii (Murr.) Gilb. Some regulations, e.g., Forest Practices Code of British Columbia (BC) Act, require anyone who harvests timber on provincial forestland and uses western white pine for reforestation to either plant genetically resistant western white pine stock or prune susceptible young trees for protection. Risks of increased WPBR associated with increased commercial cultivation of gooseberries and currants (Ribes L.) have yet to be determined. However, major threats appear to include 1) increase in local amounts of spores for nearby infection of pines; and 2) possible introductions or development of new, virulent races of C. ribicola, particularly from eastern to Pacific northwestern North America. In view of these possible threats, we recommend that existing regulations and legislation should be amended, or possibly new measures enacted, to permit propagation and commercial cultivation only of varieties of Ribes that are immune or highly resistant to WPBR.

scholarly journals Operational control of white pine blister rust by removal of lower branches

1991 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Lower Branch ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
Pinus Monticola ◽  
Operational Control ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Western White Pine ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency ◽  
Pre Treatment

Line surveys were conducted in 13 young western white pine (Pinus monticola D. Don) stands throughout British Columbia to determine the effectiveness of lower branch removal in controlling blister rust (Cronartium ribicola Fischer). Uninfected trees and most trees with infected branches were protected from future stem infections. In general, effectiveness and efficiency could have been improved by (a) earlier treatment to reduce stem infections, (b) not treating trees with infected stems, (c) treating all other trees, and (d) removing infected branches above the treatment height. Some stands were spaced during treatment; however, untrained fallers failed to distinguish between healthy trees and those with infected stems. Frequently healthy trees were felled while diseased trees were left standing. A pre-treatment survey is recommended to determine the level of crew training needed and treatment prescription.

scholarly journals White Pine Blister Rust in British Columbia II. Can Stands be Hazard Rated?

1983 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Cronartium Ribicola ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
Pinus Monticola ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Tree Diameter ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Western White Pine ◽  
Hazard Rating

Twelve to 30-year-old western white pine (Pinus monticola Dougl.) in 23 stands in British Columbia were surveyed for blister rust (Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch. ex Rab.) cankers. Canker length, mid-point diameter, and height above ground were measured. The number of cankers per tree tended to increase with tree diameter, was variable within stands, and on 15 to 20 cm diameter trees ranged from a mean of one to 14 per stand and the overall mean was four cankers per tree. Large branches bore longer cankers and tended to be higher in the tree than small branches which bore short cankers. Incidence of cankers above 2.5 m tended to increase with increasing slope and they were on the side of the tree subject to evening breezes. Based on Idaho standards all sites in British Columbia were rated as low hazard, but trees growing on slopes had a higher risk than those on flat sites.Key words:Cronartium, Pinus monticola, hazard rating

scholarly journals White Pine Blister Rust in British Columbia I. The Possibilitties of Control by Branch Removal

1982 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 136-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
White Pine Blister Rust ◽  
Pinus Monticola ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Rust Infection ◽  
Blister Rust ◽  
Infection Treatment ◽  
Western White Pine ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Stem Cankers

White pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch. ex Rab.) branch cankers on 12- to 30-year-old western white pines (Pinus monticula Dougl.) in British Columbia were measured for distance from the stem, and cankers on branches and stems were measured for height above ground. Most stem cankers originated from branch cankers within 60 cm of the stem and within 2.5 m of the ground. Trees on slopes tended to have cankers higher into the crown than those on flat sites. Removal of lower branches from young western white pines will greatly reduce the possibility of death from blister rust infection. Treatment recommendations are given for western white pine as a minor or major component of the stand. Keywords: Cronartium; Pinus monticola

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