Western Gall Rust - Forest Health and Adaptation

 
     
 
 
 Western Gall Rust Slide Show{GFX-ESRDx-ForestHealth-WesternGallRust-Slide2.jpg}{GFX-ESRDx-ForestHealth-WesternGallRust-Slide3.jpg}Western gall rust (Endocronartium harknessii) is a common fungal disease of hard pines such as Jack and lodgepole pine. Airborne spores infect the green tissue of young shoots, causing the wood to swell into galls (globe-shaped clumps).
This disease generally affects young pines throughout the province.

Signs and Symptoms

Look for the following signs and symptoms of Western gall rust:

Branches/Twigs/Shoots
  • Dieback
  • Globular galls
  • Powdery orange spores in the spring
Crown
  • Fading green/yellow-orange or red brown
Foliage/Buds
  • Fading green/yellow-orange or red-brown needles
Stem/Outer Bark
  • Galls
  • Powdery orange spores in the spring
Root Collar/Root
  • Galls on root collar of young trees
Similar Damage
  • Can be confused with blister rusts. Look for gall-like swellings.

 
 
 
 
For more information about the content of this document, contact Devon Belanger.
This information published to the web on February 24, 2016.