White Pine Blister Rust Treatment
Cronartium ribicola, a rust fungus native to China, causes this disease. This fungus needs two hosts to complete its life cycle, one from the Pinus genus and one from the Ribes genus, which is commonly known as currants or gooseberries. There is a more significant incidence of five-needle pines, especially young pines, which are more susceptible to damage. It has a life cycle between 3 to 6 years, and symptoms usually develop into irreversible damage, while the first years display moderate symptoms. This fungus prefers cooler temperatures and moist environments. There are economic effects on the timber industry since this fungus affects a vast range of Pinus, some of them considered premium materials that are ranked at higher values.
