Monitoring of blister rust resistance, pathogen virulence, and genetic adaptability of western white pine (Pinus monticola) at six sites in western Washington, USA

Abstract

Western white pine (WWP, Pinus monticola) is a wideranging, long-lived native conifer species in western North America. It is highly susceptible to the introduced fungal pathogen Cronartium ribicola, causative agent of white pine blister rust (WPBR). The impacts of the blister rust have reduced the incidence of WWP in natural ecosystems and have led to reluctance in using the species in both restoration and reforestation. Research and operational programs to develop genetic resistance to WPBR have been ongoing for more than five decades, with regional programs based in Oregon (USA), Idaho (USA), and British Columbia (Canada). Progeny of thousands of parent trees have been screened for rust resistance in short-term artificial inoculation trials, and several types of resistance have been uncovered (Sniezko et al. 2014). Seed orchards have been established using the products of the earlier resistance work, and breeding to increase the level of genetic resistance continues. However, relatively few field trials, and notably multisite field trials with a diverse array of geographic sources and types of resistance, have been established to examine field resistance and durability of resistance (Sniezko et al. 2012).

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the IUFRO joint conference: Genetics of five-needle pines, rusts of forest trees, and Strobusphere; 2014 June 15–20; Fort Collins, CO

Citation

Ramsey, Amy; Sniezko, Richard A.; Danchok, Robert; Omdal, Dan; Kegley, Angelia; Savin, Douglas P.; Long, Sally. 2018. Monitoring of blister rust resistance, pathogen virulence, and genetic adaptability of western white pine (Pinus monticola) at six sites in western Washington, USA. In: Schoettle, Anna W.; Sniezko, Richard A.; Kliejunas, John T., eds. Proceedings of the IUFRO joint conference: Genetics of five-needle pines, rusts of forest trees, and Strobusphere; 2014 June 15-20; Fort Collins, CO. Proc. RMRS-P-76. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 88-90.