Europhium trinacriforme Parker was isolated from 11% of the lesions on western white pine affected with pole blight in the Interior of British Columbia and from 84% of the lesions on white pine on the Coast. This fungus was the only organism isolated more than twice from pole blight lesions and found to be pathogenic to white pine. However, it was unable to cause the pole blight condition within a period of 4 years after inoculation into healthy white pine. When this fungus was placed in wounds on white pine, lesions resulted which were similar to pole blight lesions in shape and in ability to cause resin exudation, but were otherwise dissimilar. On the basis of radial growth analysis it was evident that lesions occur following a general reduction in radial increment, and at the same time, or shortly after, the first crown symptoms of pole blight appear. Radial growth beneath lesions was nearly always less than in other parts of the stem section, indicating that both the position and extent of lesions are determined before they occur. Examinations of the number and size of lesions on pole blighted trees and the results of inoculations, isolations, and histological studies indicated that E. trinacriforme most likely gains entrance to lesions that are already formed from other causes and extends them.
Operational control of white pine blister rust by removal of lower branches
