White Pine Blister Rust in Vermont: Past, Present, and Concerns for the Future

White pine blister rust (WPBR) (Cronartium ribicola J. C. Fischer) has been present in Vermont and other northeastern states since the early 1900s. The fungus is commonly observed on currants and gooseberries (Ribes L.) every year, but incidence varies on eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.). Our general impression has been that Vermont has had a relatively low level of infection on eastern white pines; however, we recently found rust incidence in Christmas tree plantings in northern Vermont to range from 10 to 42% (average 20%) based on 721 trees surveyed. Also, in pole-sized stands in southern Vermont, incidence ranged from 12 to 46% (average 32%) and 76% of these trees had main stem infections. In the southern survey, 98% of wild ribes plants had varied amounts of both urediniospores and teliospores. These preliminary survey data suggest that incidence of WPBR may be more significant than previously thought and therefore, additional survey work is needed. We screened cultivars of Ribes for susceptibility to WPBR. Eighteen cultivars were inoculated in the field with a mass collection of aeciospores of C. ribicola. The percentages of leaf area infected ranged from 0 to 49 for the urediniospore stage and from 0 to 55 for teliospores. The gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa L.) `Welcome' had the highest percentage of leaf area with urediniospores, while black currants (R. nigrum L.) `Coronet,' `Consort,' and `Crusader' had no visible infection. Presently, Vermont has no WPBR regulations. However, previous federal laws did restrict black currant cultivation. Little is known about the genetic diversity of WPBR or its potential for change. Caution must be used when considering any cultivation of Ribes for the purpose of producing fruit because our valued white pine resources could be negatively impacted.

Download Full-text

Breeding eastern white pine for blister rust resistance: A review of progress in Ontario

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc85745-5 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 85 (5) ◽

pp. 745-755 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Pengxin Lu ◽

Darren Derbowka

Keyword(s):

Rust Resistance ◽

Genetic Resistance ◽

Pinus Strobus ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Poor Survival ◽

Eastern White Pine ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Survival And Growth ◽

Major Resistance Genes

White pine blister rust (caused by Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch.) is a primary cause of poor survival and growth of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) and has contributed to the species’ decline across its range. Genetic resistance to C. ribicola is generally weak in eastern white pine, possibly owing to the absence of meaningful resistance alleles. Integrating major resistance genes from Eurasian 5-needle pine species to P. strobus has been demonstrated to be effective through traditional plant breeding approaches. This paper provides a review of progress after more than half a century of breeding and testing in Ontario. Key words: Pinus strobus, white pine blister rust, genetic resistance, interspecific hybridization

Download Full-text

Field Evaluation of Resistance to White Pine Blister Rust of Selected Blackcurrant Genotypes in Poland

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.10.3.567 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 567-569 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Stanislaw Pluta ◽

Agata Broniarek-Niemiec

Keyword(s):

Field Evaluation ◽

Field Resistance ◽

Cronartium Ribicola ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

Ribes Nigrum ◽

White Pine ◽

Black Currant ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Breeding Selections

Field resistance to white pine blister rust (WPBR) (Cronartium ribicola J. C. Fischer) was investigated on 53 black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) genotypes (cultivars and breeding selections) in 1998 and 1999. Uredia did not form on the black currant `Titania' and 17 advanced selections during field evaluations made at the Experimental Orchard at Dabrowice, near Skierniewice, Poland.

Download Full-text

Growth and Injury Patterns of Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus L.) Seedlings as Affected by Hardwood Overstory Density and Weeding Treatments

Northern Journal of Applied Forestry ◽

10.1093/njaf/21.2.61 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 61-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Jerome A. Krueger ◽

Klaus J. Puettmann

Keyword(s):

Pinus Strobus ◽

Height Growth ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

Injury Patterns ◽

White Pine ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Pine Seedlings ◽

Growing Conditions ◽

Growth Of Seedlings ◽

White Pine Weevil

Abstract White pine seedlings were underplanted under a range of overstory densities in a hardwood stand in northern Minnesota. Vegetation surrounding seedlings was left untreated (control), weeded annually, or completely removed through monthly weeding. After 4 years, the benefit of weeding woody competition for diameter growth of seedlings was limited to areas with relatively open overstory conditions. Seedling height growth was reduced in areas with higher overstory density, but improved through weeding treatments that removed woody vegetation. The removal of herbaceous vegetation did not improve growth of seedlings in any conditions. Open growing conditions created by overstory removal and weed control resulted in higher incidences of seedling injuries, e.g., through infection by white pine blister rust. Conditions for pine bark adelgids also were enhanced in areas with low overstory densities and weeding treatments. The incidence for white pine weevil seems to follow a similar pattern, although the number of trees infected was minimal. Results show that improving growing conditions through management of the overstory and understory vegetation improves seedling growth rates, but must be balanced with potentially higher incidences of seedling injuries under more open conditions.

Download Full-text

Comparative Infectivity of Cronartium ribicola Aeciospores and Urediniospores in Genotypes of Ribes nigrum

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-94-4-0461 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 94 (4) ◽

pp. 461-464 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

D. T. Dalton ◽

J. D. Postman ◽

K. E. Hummer

Keyword(s):

Cronartium Ribicola ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

Ribes Nigrum ◽

Spore Type ◽

White Pine ◽

Black Currant ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Single Leaf ◽

Differential Responses ◽

Plastic Containers

Hosts for the fungus Cronartium ribicola, causal agent of white pine blister rust (WPBR), include five-needle pines as aecial hosts, and currants and gooseberries as uredinial/telial hosts. Aeciospores produced on diseased pine, and urediniospores produced on diseased Ribes plants, can infect Ribes foliage. Resistance and susceptibility for both spore types have been reported for Ribes; however, the comparative infectivity of these spore types on clonal Ribes nigrum genotypes is under-described. Immunity, resistance, and susceptibility to WPBR resides at a clonal level in Ribes. Previous studies have emphasized fungal diversity or forestry considerations, rather than horticultural aspects. The objective of this study was to determine if aeciospores and urediniospores were equally infective to specific genotypes of black currant, Ribes nigrum, with differential responses. A family of 51 black currant genotypes from a cross between a known-immune cultivar containing the Cr gene and a susceptible cultivar was examined. Single-leaf softwood cuttings of each of these genotypes were artificially inoculated with a spore solution and incubated in airtight plastic containers within a growth chamber. Inoculations were replicated three times for each spore type. Twenty-two of the F1 genotypes did not develop uredia after artificial inoculation. These may be immune; 22 developed uredia after exposure to both types of inoculum, and were susceptible; whereas seven exhibited differential responses and may have some mechanism for resistance to WPBR other than the Cr gene. The infectivity of aeciospores and urediniospores was not significantly different on specific Ribes genotypes. Either spore type can therefore be considered equally effective as inoculum when screening for WPBR resistance or immunity in horticultural settings.

Download Full-text

First Report of White Pine Blister Rust Caused by Cronartium ribicola on Immune Black Currant Ribes nigrum Cv. Titania in Preston, Connecticut

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-07-11-0609 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 95 (12) ◽

pp. 1589-1589 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Z. A. Frederick ◽

S. Villani ◽

K. D. Cox ◽

L. Los ◽

J. Allen

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New England ◽

New York State ◽

Cronartium Ribicola ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Black Currant ◽

Chemical Management ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Small Industry

Since the relaxation of federal sanctions on the planting of Ribes crops because of the development of white pine blister rust (WPBR) immune Ribes cultivars (3), a small industry for the production of Ribes fruit for fresh and processing markets was established in New York and surrounding New England states. The majority of Ribes acreage in the region is planted to a WPBR immune black currant R. nigrum cv. Titania. From 2008 to June 2011, symptoms resembling those caused by WPBR pathogen Cronartium ribicola were observed at a large (>12 ha) R. nigrum cv. Titania planting in Preston, CT. In 2008, infection was restricted to a single field (100% incidence), but in 2009, all fields suffered from premature defoliation by late July. In 2010 and 2011, there was considerable incidence (>85%), but premature defoliation was kept in check by chemical management. Symptoms began as chlorotic lesions (0.5 to 4.3 mm in diameter) on both sides of the leaf. These chlorotic lesions had margins delineated by leaf veins and many developed necrotic (0.3 to 0.9 mm in diameter) centers on the upper surface of leaves within 2 to 3 weeks. The undersides of lesions developed blisters containing orange uredinia (0.1 to 0.33 mm in diameter) with smooth peridia that broke with the production of yellow-orange urediniospores (30 × 15 to 25 μm). Symptoms and signs were consistent with published descriptions of C. ribicola (1) and with WPBR infections on highly susceptible R. nigrum cv. Ben Alder planted at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva. Additional confirmation was provided by sequencing the two internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the 5.8S gene (GenBank Accession No. JN587805; 98% identity with No. DQ533975) in the nuclear ribosomal repeat using primers ITS1-F and ITS4 as described previously (2,4). Furthermore, an attempt was made to confirm pathogenicity in the greenhouse by inoculating shoots of potted nursery stock of R. nigrum cv. Titania. Shoots were inoculated by rubbing leaves with either an uninfected currant leaf or a currant leaf from Preston, CT sporulating with urediniospores. Plants were subsequently misted with dH20 and covered with plastic bags for 24 h. Plants were watered biweekly and kept in a greenhouse with 39 to 65% relative humidity at 21 to 26°C. Shoots were monitored for symptom development on a weekly basis. After 3 weeks, 2 of the 10 plants inoculated with infected leaves developed chlorotic lesions and uredinia identical to those on leaves from Preston, CT, while all others remained healthy. Although not easily reproducible in a greenhouse, the breakdown of immunity in R. nigrum cv. Titania was observed for the last 4 years in Connecticut. Given that WPBR immunity was one of the conditions for legalized planting of Ribes, the breakdown of immunity has potentially deleterious implications particularly for nearby states like Massachusetts and New York, in which the Ribes industries are expanding. Moreover, Ribes growers may need to rely on chemical management programs to manage WPBR in the future. References: (1) G. B. Cummins. Illustrated Genera of Rust Fungi. Burgess Publishing Company, Minneapolis, MN, 1959. (2) M. Gardes and T. D. Bruns. Mol. Ecol. 2:113, 1993. (3) S. McKay. Hortic. Technol. 10:562, 2000. (4) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, CA, 1990.

Download Full-text

Canadian Breeding Program for White Pine Blister Resistance in Black Currants

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.10.3.555 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 555-556 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Margie Luffman

Keyword(s):

Rust Resistance ◽

Breeding Program ◽

Cronartium Ribicola ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

Ribes Nigrum ◽

White Pine ◽

Black Currant ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Made In

The search for appropriate white pine blister rust (WPBR) (Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fischer) resistant germplasm to use in black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) breeding programs began in 1935 in Ottawa. Crosses were made in 1938 and 1939 with three different Ribes L. species and two standard black currant cultivars. The resulting seedlings from these crosses were evaluated for rust resistance. Three promising selections resulted from this program and were named `Coronet', `Crusader' and `Consort'.

Download Full-text

Restoration of White Pine in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.10.3.542 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 542-543 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M.E. Ostry

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Disease Resistance ◽

Pinus Strobus ◽

Active Management ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Silvicultural Treatments ◽

Lake States ◽

The Impact

White pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch.) (WPBR) was discovered on Ribes L. in New York in 1906, although it was accidentally introduced from Europe on pine (Pinus L.) seedlings. The spread of this destructive fungus has changed the forests in North America. After decades of reduced planting because of the concern over the impact of WPBR, white pine (Pinus strobus L.) is now being restored in the lake states of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Although the potential for growing white pine is high on many sites, the disappearance of a seed source because of logging and fires means that reestablishment of white pine to these areas will require active management. A series of plantings have been established on three national forests in Minnesota and Michigan to evaluate various silvicultural treatments intended to minimize the incidence of WPBR and to compare the performance of seedlings selected for disease resistance to nonselected planting stock.

Download Full-text

Cronartium ribicola. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria ◽

10.1079/dfb/20056400283 ◽

1971 ◽

Author(s):

G. F. Laundon

Keyword(s):

Geographical Distribution ◽

Turn Of The Century ◽

Cronartium Ribicola ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Black Currant ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Pine Seedlings ◽

Almost All ◽

Stem Cankers

Abstract A description is provided for Cronartium ribicola. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Pycnia and aecia on numerous members of Pinus sect. Strobus (= sect. Cembra) (white pines) especially P. albicaulis, P. lambertiana, P. monticola and P. strobus; uredia and telia on almost all Ribes and Grossularia species, the cultivated black currant being particularly susceptible. DISEASE: White pine blister rust, currant rust. Causes stem cankers on pines and leaf lesions on currants. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Asia, Europe and N. America (CMI Map 6, ed. 3). TRANSMISSION: Overwinters almost exclusively on pines from which aeciospores may be blown hundreds of kilometres (7: 813) to infect Ribes leaves through stomata (Spaulding, 1922). In contrast, basidiospores (38: 393) travel only a few hundred metres to infect pine needles through stomata (Patton & Johnson, 1970), from where the mycelium grows into the stem to form cankers. The importation of large quantities of white pine seedlings from Europe at the turn of the century carried the disease to N. America (Spaulding, 1922; 1929).

Download Full-text

Forest disease records on eastern white pine in Atlantic Canada: 1950 to 1996

The Forestry Chronicle ◽

10.5558/tfc85604-4 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 85 (4) ◽

pp. 604-608 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

K. J. Harrison

Keyword(s):

Forest Health ◽

Pinus Strobus ◽

National Forest ◽

Atlantic Canada ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Eastern White Pine ◽

Forest Disease ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Health Database

Between 1936 and 1996, the Forest Insect and Disease Survey (FIDS) of the Canadian Forest Service of Natural Resources Canada surveyed eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) throughout Atlantic Canada. During those years, FIDS reported its insect and disease findings in a wide variety of regional and national reports and in the scientific literature. The National Forest Health Database contains these electronic records and indicates the distribution and relative importance of forest diseases and fungi for many tree species in Atlantic Canada. This paper is a frequency analysis of the fungal diseases recorded from the Atlantic provinces in the National Forest Health Database and reported in the various Maritime, Newfoundland and national FIDS reports. The significant eastern white pine diseases (e.g., white pine blister rust Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch.) that are established in Atlantic Canada as well as other diseases that are found elsewhere in Canada, but not yet in the Atlantic provinces are discussed. Occurrence data for 40 of the less frequently collected fungal species are presented in a summary table. Key words: white pine blister rust, Cronartium ribicola, eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, Scleroderris canker, Gremmeniella abietina, Annosus root rot, Heterobasidion annosum, white pine root decline, Leptographium procerum, needle cast, Lophodermium pinastri, brown felt fungus, Septobasidium pinicola, Atlantic Canada, forest disease

Download Full-text

Evaluating White Pine Blister Rust Resistance in Ribes after Artificial Inoculation

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.10.3.544 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 544-545 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Paul J. Zambino

Keyword(s):

Resistance Gene ◽

Rust Resistance ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

Ribes Nigrum ◽

White Pine ◽

Black Currant ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Single Leaf ◽

Resistance To Infection ◽

Red Currant

Artificially inoculated single-leaf cuttings and small plants consistently differentiated european black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) cultivars susceptible to white pine blister rust (WPBR; Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch.) from immune cultivars carrying the Cr resistance gene. Black currant cultivars Consort, Crusader, and Titania showed no signs of infection with any of 21 strains of WPBR, suggesting that strains able to overcome immunity conferred by the Cr resistance gene, if they exist, are uncommon in North America. However, in red currant (Ribes rubrum L.), two sources of material presumed to represent the immune cultivar Viking showed no resistance to infection. All rust strains infected and sporulated as if the cultivar were fully susceptible, casting doubt on the true identity of available sources of `Viking'.

Download Full-text