Quantitative Disease Resistance to White Pine Blister Rust at Southwestern White Pine’s (Pinus strobiformis) Northern Range

White pine blister rust, caused by the non-native, invasive fungal pathogen Cronartium ribicola, is a significant cause of mortality in white pines (Pinus subgenus Strobus) in North America. Along with climate-driven range contraction, mortality from blister rust can seriously impact the abundance and distribution of the nine white pine species native to the United States and Canada. Very little evaluation of this disease in southwestern white pine (Pinus strobiformis) has been previously undertaken, but genetic resistance to the disease has been documented, including major gene resistance (MGR) conferred by a dominant R gene. Data is emerging suggesting that the species also has quantitative disease resistance (QR). Our results suggest QR occurs at low frequency, with perhaps 10% of trees having a moderate level (> 35% survival). We assessed progeny arrays from 40 P. strobiformis families (1873 seedlings), originating from three populations, inoculated with C. ribicola. Subsequently, the seedlings were assessed for signs, symptoms and resulting impact in a common garden trial over a 7.5-year period to determine the types and frequency of resistance in a portion of this species’ range. There was a high incidence of both stem symptoms and mortality in the P. strobiformis families tested, and families ranged in survival from 0 to 84.6%. Three families had > 70% survival, representing perhaps the highest documented QR to date in a North American white pine species. Approximately 29.1% of the 441 surviving seedlings showed no stem symptoms, and of the approximately 70.8% of seedlings surviving with infections only few (24 of 316) had infections of moderate to high severity. QR traits associated with improved survival were primarily related to lower severity of infection, a reduced number of stem symptoms, and an increased number of bark reactions. Despite the high overall susceptibility, the presence of QR appears to be at a frequency and level useful to forest managers involved in restoration and reforestation efforts.

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Genetic resistance to white pine blister rust in limber pine (Pinus flexilis): major gene resistance in a northern population

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/cjfr-2016-0128 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 46 (9) ◽

pp. 1173-1178 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Richard A. Sniezko ◽

Robert Danchok ◽

Douglas P. Savin ◽

Jun-Jun Liu ◽

Angelia Kegley

Keyword(s):

Major Gene ◽

Genetic Resistance ◽

The United States ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Pinus Flexilis ◽

Limber Pine ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Major Gene Resistance ◽

The Status

Limber pine, Pinus flexilis E. James, a wide-ranging tree species in western North America, is highly susceptible to white pine blister rust (WPBR), caused by the non-native fungal pathogen Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch. The Canadian populations in particular have been heavily impacted, and in 2014, limber pine was designated endangered in Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Little is known about genetic resistance to WPBR in limber pine, but major gene resistance (MGR) has been characterized in some populations in the United States. This study examines resistance in seedling families from 13 parent trees from British Columbia, Alberta, and Oregon, representing the northern- and northwestern-most populations. Most families were susceptible, with 100% of the seedlings cankered, but one family from Alberta segregated 1:1 for cankered and canker free. This is the first report of (a) MGR in Canada of any of the four species of five-needle pines native to Canada and (b) any resistance in limber pine in Canadian populations and is the northernmost known incidence of putative R-gene resistance in a natural stand of any five-needle pine species. Many of the Canadian selections were from stands with high incidence of WPBR infection, and their high susceptibility in this trial suggests that further infection and mortality is likely in the Canadian populations.

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White Pine Blister Rust Resistance in Limber Pine: Evidence for a Major Gene

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-04-13-0092-r ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 104 (2) ◽

pp. 163-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

A. W. Schoettle ◽

R. A. Sniezko ◽

A. Kegley ◽

K. S. Burns

Keyword(s):

Major Gene ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Genetic Resistance ◽

Stress Factors ◽

R Gene ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Individual Tree ◽

Limber Pine ◽

Blister Rust

Limber pine (Pinus flexilis) is being threatened by the lethal disease white pine blister rust caused by the non-native pathogen Cronartium ribicola. The types and frequencies of genetic resistance to the rust will likely determine the potential success of restoration or proactive measures. These first extensive inoculation trials using individual tree seed collections from >100 limber pine trees confirm that genetic segregation of a stem symptom-free trait to blister rust is consistent with inheritance by a single dominant resistance (R) gene, and the resistance allele appears to be distinct from the R allele in western white pine. Following previous conventions, we are naming the R gene for limber pine “Cr4.” The frequency of the Cr4 allele across healthy and recently invaded populations in the Southern Rocky Mountains was unexpectedly high (5.0%, ranging from 0 to 13.9%). Cr4 is in equilibrium, suggesting that it is not a product of a recent mutation and may have other adaptive significance within the species, possibly related to other abiotic or biotic stress factors. The identification of Cr4 in native populations of limber pine early in the invasion progress in this region provides useful information for predicting near-term impacts and structuring long-term management strategies.

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Pinus monticola pathogenesis-related gene PmPR10-2 alleles as defense candidates for stem quantitative disease resistance against white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola)

Tree Genetics & Genomes ◽

10.1007/s11295-012-0561-0 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 397-408 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jun-Jun Liu ◽

Craig Hammett ◽

Richard A. Sniezko

Keyword(s):

Disease Resistance ◽

Cronartium Ribicola ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

Pinus Monticola ◽

Related Gene ◽

White Pine ◽

Quantitative Disease Resistance ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Pathogenesis Related ◽

Pathogenesis Related Gene

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White Pine Blister Rust in North America: Past and Prognosis

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto.2003.93.8.1044 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 93 (8) ◽

pp. 1044-1047 ◽

Cited By ~ 96

Author(s):

Bohun B. Kinloch

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Resistance Genes ◽

Major Gene ◽

Genetic Resistance ◽

Control Measures ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Improvement Programs ◽

Ribes Spp

After a full century in North America, the blister rust epidemic has yet to stabilize, continuing to spread into warmer and drier areas previously considered climatically inhospitable. The disease apparently has no environmental limits wherever white pines and Ribes spp. cohabit and will eventually become pandemic. Although much timber value has been lost, more severe long-term damage is disruption caused to ecosystems by altered patterns of natural succession. During the last half of the century just past, development of genetic resistance superceded other direct control measures—mainly Ribes spp. eradication and antibiotics—which proved ineffective and/or unfeasible in large areas of the white pine range, especially in the West. Several mechanisms of complete (major gene) and partial resistance are common to at least several white pine species. Although North American populations of rust have low genetic variability overall, rust genotypes with specific virulence to major resistance genes exist in some local demes at high frequencies. The challenge will be to package and deploy resistance genes in ways that will dampen sudden increases in rust races of wide virulence. New introductions of blister rust from its gene center in Asia remain the gravest threat to genetic improvement programs.

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Genomic basis of white pine blister rust quantitative disease resistance and its relationship with qualitative resistance

The Plant Journal ◽

10.1111/tpj.14928 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 104 (2) ◽

pp. 365-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Matthew Weiss ◽

Richard A. Sniezko ◽

Daniela Puiu ◽

Marc W. Crepeau ◽

Kristian Stevens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Resistance ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Quantitative Disease Resistance ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Qualitative Resistance ◽

Genomic Basis

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Compounding effects of white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetle, and fire threaten four white pine species

Ecosphere ◽

10.1002/ecs2.3263 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Joan C. Dudney ◽

Jonathan C. B. Nesmith ◽

Matthew C. Cahill ◽

Jennifer E. Cribbs ◽

Dan M. Duriscoe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mountain Pine Beetle ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Mountain Pine ◽

Pine Beetle ◽

Pine Species

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Genetic Specificity in the White Pine-Blister Rust Pathosystem

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto.2002.92.3.278 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 92 (3) ◽

pp. 278-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Bohun B. Kinloch ◽

Gayle E. Dupper

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Great Basin ◽

Single Gene ◽

Low Frequency ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Mendelian Segregation ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Sugar Pine ◽

Bristlecone Pine

Four of eight white pine species native to western North America surveyed for resistance to white pine blister rust by artificial inoculation showed classical hypersensitive reactions (HR) at frequencies ranging from very low to moderate. Mendelian segregation, indicating a single dominant allele for resistance (Cr3), was observed in southwestern white pine (Pinus strobiformis), as it was previously in sugar pine (P. lambertiana, Cr1) and western white pine (P. monticola, Cr2). HR was present at a relatively high frequency (19%) in one of five bulk seed lot sources of limber pine (P. flexilis), and was also presumed to be conditioned by a single gene locus, by analogy with the other three species. HR was not found in whitebark pine (P. albcaulis), Mexican white pine (P. ayacahuite), foxtail pine (P. balfouriana), or Great Basin bristlecone pine (P. longaeva), but population and sample sizes in these species may have been below the level of detection of alleles in low frequency. When challenged by (haploid) inocula from specific locations known to harbor virulence to Cr1 or Cr2, genotypes carrying these alleles and Cr3 reacted differentially, such that inoculum virulent to Cr1 was avirulent to Cr2, and inoculum virulent to Cr2 was avirulent to Cr1. Neither of these two inocula was capable of neutralizing Cr3. Although blister rust traditionally is considered an exotic disease in North America, these results, typical of classic gene-for-gene interactions, suggest that genetic memory of similar encounters in past epochs has been retained in this pathosystem.

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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

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Distribution and severity of white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetle on whitebark pine in British Columbia

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x00-020 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 30 (7) ◽

pp. 1051-1059 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Elizabeth M Campbell ◽

Joseph A Antos

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Mountain Pine Beetle ◽

Stand Structure ◽

The United States ◽

Whitebark Pine ◽

White Pine Blister Rust ◽

White Pine ◽

Blister Rust ◽

Mountain Pine ◽

Pine Beetle

A major decline in the abundance of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) has recently occurred in the United States, primarily as a result of white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch. ex Raben.). However, no information on the status of whitebark pine in British Columbia, Canada, was available. We sampled 54 subalpine stands in British Columbia, examining all whitebark pine trees within plots for evidence of blister rust and mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopk.) damage. About 21% of all whitebark pine stems were dead, and blister rust was the most important agent of mortality. Of all living trees sampled, 27% had obvious blister rust infection (cankers), but actual incidence was suspected of being as high as 44% (using all evidence of blister rust). Blister rust incidence and whitebark pine mortality were significantly related to differences in stand structure and the presence of Ribes spp., but relationships with local climate and site variables were absent or weak. The lack of strong relationships with climate suggests favourable conditions for the spread of the disease throughout most of British Columbia. Very little evidence of mountain pine beetle was found. Overall, the prospects for whitebark pine in British Columbia do not appear good; a large reduction in population levels seems imminent.

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