Research on the biology of fusiform rust in the southeastern United States

Abstract

The incidence of fusiform rust has continued to be one of the major forest disease problems in the Southeastern United States. In the past, much of the research has concentrated on field studies with provenance selection and genetic breeding of pine families to increase resistance in the host. In the last 10 years, there has been an increased interest in the actual biology of the fusiform rust fungus. Three areas of research on-going in the South are overlapping the areas of molecular, cellular, and population biology. In order to control the disease, a combination of host genetics will be valuable, but so will a biological understanding of the survival mechanisms and ecology of Cronartium species. In the last decade, research has started in the Southeastern United States with collaborations between Federal and State agencies concentrated on the biology of fusiform rust.

Citation

Spaine, Pauline. 1998. Research on the biology of fusiform rust in the southeastern United States. Proceedings of the first IUFRO [International Union of Forestry Research Organizations] rusts of forest trees working party conference; 1998 August 2-7; Saariselka, Finland. Research Papers 712. Metla, Finland: Finnish Forest Research Institute: 231-234.