Western White Pine

White pine blister rust, caused by Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch., is a fungus disease originally introduced to British Columbia from Asia via Europe. It attacks all white pines, both native and introduced. It is particularly devastating to native pines because they have little or no resistance to the fungus. For many years, western white pine, a high-value native species with desirable wood and silvicultural properties, was not managed because of this disease. Research in British Columbia has demonstrated how wild stands can be managed and has provided blister rust resistant clones for seed orchards. This report summarizes white pine disease management and how resistant clones were identified for reforestation programs in British Columbia.