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