White Pine Blister RustWhite Pine Blister Rust
Prepared by Ryan BurkumPrepared by Ryan BurkumPlant Health Care CoordinatorPlant Health Care CoordinatorOlympic Tree and Land Management Inc.Olympic Tree and Land Management Inc.Revised November 2008Revised November 2008
Brief IntroductionBrief Introduction• Scientific name Cronartium RibicolaScientific name Cronartium Ribicola• Fungal diseaseFungal disease• Requires two plant hosts to complete Requires two plant hosts to complete
it’s lifecycleit’s lifecycle• Eastern White PineEastern White Pine• Ribes species (Gooseberries and Ribes species (Gooseberries and
Currants)Currants)
Introduction ContinuedIntroduction Continued• Introduced from Europe in the 1890’sIntroduced from Europe in the 1890’s• Most likely introduced on European Most likely introduced on European
grown seedlings planted for grown seedlings planted for reforestationreforestation
• Can cause defoliation on RibesCan cause defoliation on Ribes• Serious disease of White PinesSerious disease of White Pines
Often Leads to Death of White Often Leads to Death of White PinesPines
Two White Pines Removed Two White Pines Removed due to Blister Rust due to Blister Rust
InfectionInfection
State of Michigan White Pine State of Michigan White Pine Blister Rust Act 313 of 1929Blister Rust Act 313 of 1929
• Declared the fungus known as white pine Declared the fungus known as white pine blister rust to be a dangerous forest pestblister rust to be a dangerous forest pest
• Any pines or currants found infected Any pines or currants found infected where declared a nuisancewhere declared a nuisance
• Declared black currant a public nuisance Declared black currant a public nuisance • Outlawed the sale, possession, and Outlawed the sale, possession, and
growing of black currantgrowing of black currant• Punishable by $100 fine or 90 days in jailPunishable by $100 fine or 90 days in jail
New York State Consolidated New York State Consolidated Laws: Environmental Laws: Environmental
Conservation Conservation ►Title 13, section 9-1301 Title 13, section 9-1301 ►Declared Black Currant a nuisance Declared Black Currant a nuisance ►Agents of the DEC had the right to Agents of the DEC had the right to
remove black currantremove black currant►Provided Fruiting districts that allowed Provided Fruiting districts that allowed
for currant to be planted as an for currant to be planted as an agricultural cropagricultural crop
Current state of Currant Current state of Currant ProductionProduction
• August of 2003 governor Pataki signed a law August of 2003 governor Pataki signed a law allowing Black currant to be planted in New allowing Black currant to be planted in New York, reversing a 100 year old lawYork, reversing a 100 year old law
• One law maker called the decision “ a major One law maker called the decision “ a major agricultural achievement”agricultural achievement”
• Additionally several species of currants are Additionally several species of currants are available from Canadian nurseriesavailable from Canadian nurseries
• Aside from what's planted and imported Aside from what's planted and imported ribes also occurs naturally in our regionribes also occurs naturally in our region
• The bottom line is that Ribes are here !The bottom line is that Ribes are here !
The HostsThe Hosts► Eastern White PineEastern White Pine► Pinus strobusPinus strobus► Five needles per Five needles per
fasciclefascicle► Grows to 150 feet tall Grows to 150 feet tall ► Can live for 500 plus Can live for 500 plus
yearsyears► Wood used for Wood used for
lumber, cabin logs, lumber, cabin logs, pulpwood for paperpulpwood for paper
More White PineMore White Pine
Ribes Ribes • Small dense, low Small dense, low
growing shrubsgrowing shrubs• Multiple stemsMultiple stems• Extensive root Extensive root
systemssystems• Some species have Some species have
spinesspines• Leaves are alternate Leaves are alternate
and lobed, look like and lobed, look like small maple leavessmall maple leaves
More RibesMore Ribes• Grows on a variety of sites Grows on a variety of sites • Fruit varies with species Fruit varies with species • Several species act as the alternate Several species act as the alternate
host for White Pine Blister Rusthost for White Pine Blister Rust• Species such as skunk currant, wild Species such as skunk currant, wild
red currant, and prickly gooseberry red currant, and prickly gooseberry are found in our regionare found in our region
More RibesMore Ribes
More RibesMore Ribes
LifeLife CycleCycle ofof White Pine Blister White Pine Blister RustRust
White Pine Blister Rust Life White Pine Blister Rust Life Cycle IICycle II
White Pine Blister Rust Life White Pine Blister Rust Life Cycle Simplified !!Cycle Simplified !!
Beginning in early to mid summer hair Beginning in early to mid summer hair like projections emerge from the bottom like projections emerge from the bottom of ribes leafof ribes leaf
Spores that grow on the hair like Spores that grow on the hair like projections and are released to infect projections and are released to infect White PinesWhite Pines
The spores are blown around by the wind The spores are blown around by the wind and land on and infect Pine Needlesand land on and infect Pine Needles
Simple Life Cycle Continued Simple Life Cycle Continued
In 4 to 10 weeks spots are visible on In 4 to 10 weeks spots are visible on needlesneedles
2 to 4 years after initial infection the 2 to 4 years after initial infection the Pine produces Aecial Blisters Pine produces Aecial Blisters (yellow/orange)(yellow/orange)
These blisters produce spores which These blisters produce spores which infect the Ribes.infect the Ribes.
IdentificationIdentification► In spring (around May) look for Aecial In spring (around May) look for Aecial
Blister rupturing the bark of White PineBlister rupturing the bark of White Pine
►They are yellow or orange in color and They are yellow or orange in color and produce the spores that infect the produce the spores that infect the Ribes Plant.Ribes Plant.
IdentificationIdentification►Also in the Spring and Summer look for Also in the Spring and Summer look for
Chlorotic or Slightly Yellow Needles Chlorotic or Slightly Yellow Needles ►This stage of infection may difficult to This stage of infection may difficult to
IDID►As the infection progresses the As the infection progresses the
needles will turn brown or reddish in needles will turn brown or reddish in color, this is known as a “flagging” color, this is known as a “flagging” branchbranch
Slightly Yellowing Needles in the Slightly Yellowing Needles in the SpringSpring
Canker Associated with Canker Associated with Yellowing NeedlesYellowing Needles
Canker Associated with Yellowing Canker Associated with Yellowing NeedlesNeedles
More IDMore ID► All year long look All year long look
for for • Branch flaggingBranch flagging• Trunk cankersTrunk cankers• Resin flowResin flow
Branch FlaggingBranch Flagging
Branch Flagging and Associated Branch Flagging and Associated CankerCanker
Small Tree Infected Small Tree Infected with Blister Rustwith Blister Rust
Margin of the Margin of the canker is orange canker is orange
Trunk CankersTrunk Cankers
Trunk Cankers and Resin Trunk Cankers and Resin FlowFlow
Sunken Trunk from Old Sunken Trunk from Old InfectionInfection
Trunk Cankers Greatly Affect the Trunk Cankers Greatly Affect the Strength of the TreeStrength of the Tree
Extensive Extensive Decay & Decay & Strength Strength
LossLossSmall amount Small amount of Sound of Sound
WoodWood
Outline of Healthy Outline of Healthy TreeTree
Trees With Trunk Cankers are Trees With Trunk Cankers are HazardousHazardous
►Trees with trunk cankers can failTrees with trunk cankers can fail►Due to the loss of sound wood trees Due to the loss of sound wood trees
with trunk cankers pose a threat to with trunk cankers pose a threat to structures and peoplestructures and people
Tree Failure due to Trunk Tree Failure due to Trunk CankerCanker
Resin Flow Associated with Resin Flow Associated with CankerCanker
Branch Canker from Fallen TreeBranch Canker from Fallen Tree
What to do???What to do???• Monitoring and early detectionMonitoring and early detection• Improving Plant/Stand HealthImproving Plant/Stand Health• Removing RibesRemoving Ribes• Bark tracingBark tracing
Monitoring and early Monitoring and early detectiondetection
►Early detection is essentialEarly detection is essential ►Once the Blister Rust has progressed Once the Blister Rust has progressed
down a branch and is within 6 inches of down a branch and is within 6 inches of the trunk the tree has little chance of the trunk the tree has little chance of survivalsurvival
► If caught early the infected branch can be If caught early the infected branch can be pruned off and the tree saved pruned off and the tree saved
►Small trees can be monitored from the Small trees can be monitored from the ground while larger trees should be ground while larger trees should be climbed and inspectedclimbed and inspected
Improving Tree and Stand Improving Tree and Stand HealthHealth
►Maintain adequate water and fertilizerMaintain adequate water and fertilizer►Prune the lower portions of small trees Prune the lower portions of small trees
and the crowns of large trees.and the crowns of large trees.►Thin stands of trees to promote airflowThin stands of trees to promote airflow►By promoting airflow the spores have By promoting airflow the spores have
less of a chance to settle and become less of a chance to settle and become established, other pest are also established, other pest are also deterreddeterred
Increasing air flow around Increasing air flow around smaller treessmaller trees
►Lightly prune small trees by removing a Lightly prune small trees by removing a few lower branches and any crossing few lower branches and any crossing limbslimbs
► Raising and lightly cleaning the crown Raising and lightly cleaning the crown increases air flow increases air flow
►When done properly plant health is When done properly plant health is increased while maintaining screening increased while maintaining screening and tree character and tree character
Increasing Air Circulation for Increasing Air Circulation for Larger TreesLarger Trees
►Prune to Clean and Thin the crowns.Prune to Clean and Thin the crowns.►Remove any dead wood and crossing Remove any dead wood and crossing
limbs.limbs.► In addition to helping prevent Blister Rust In addition to helping prevent Blister Rust
pruning the crowns of larger trees makes pruning the crowns of larger trees makes them less susceptible to damage from them less susceptible to damage from wind and snow loads.wind and snow loads.
►This type of activity requires an arborist to This type of activity requires an arborist to access the crown of the tree either by access the crown of the tree either by climbing or using an aerial lift device.climbing or using an aerial lift device.
Un-Thinned VS. Thinned Un-Thinned VS. Thinned PinesPines
More un-thinned PinesMore un-thinned Pines
Thinned Pines, increased air Thinned Pines, increased air flowflow
Poor Air FlowPoor Air Flow
Increased Air Flow around a Increased Air Flow around a single Treesingle Tree
Removing RibesRemoving Ribes►Monitoring to seek out RibesMonitoring to seek out Ribes►Manually pull out or dig up the plant Manually pull out or dig up the plant
and remove from siteand remove from site►Spray with herbicideSpray with herbicide►Must be diligent, the Ribes will re-grow, Must be diligent, the Ribes will re-grow,
continued monitoring is necessarycontinued monitoring is necessary►Spores from far away ribes can infect Spores from far away ribes can infect
PinePine
Bark TracingBark Tracing►A last resort once the Blister Rust has A last resort once the Blister Rust has
reached the trunkreached the trunk►Remove the bark from the infected Remove the bark from the infected
area and 2 to 4 inches beyond, leaving area and 2 to 4 inches beyond, leaving an elliptical shaped scaran elliptical shaped scar
►An elliptical shape scar will heal sooner An elliptical shape scar will heal sooner than a round or rectangular scarthan a round or rectangular scar
►The flow of nutrients is better around The flow of nutrients is better around an elliptical shape scaran elliptical shape scar
Bark TracingBark Tracing
ConclusionConclusion►Blister Rust is a serious/lethal disease Blister Rust is a serious/lethal disease
of White Pine of White Pine ►Ribes and their spores are present in Ribes and their spores are present in
the environment and total eradication the environment and total eradication seems unlikelyseems unlikely
►Diligence in terms of monitoring and Diligence in terms of monitoring and proactive treatments such as proactive treatments such as promoting air flow and circulation will promoting air flow and circulation will sustain White Pine on the Landscape sustain White Pine on the Landscape