Blister Rust On Unprotected White Pines

The spread of blister rust in a natural stand of white pine was followed over a 20-year period, starting about 10 years after the initial infection. Seedlings and saplings suffered heavy losses and were virtually eliminated from the stand. Mortality of older trees increased steadily during the 20 years, with almost half of the largest and most valuable trees dead or dying from the disease at the end of the study.