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Historical Significance

The extensive white pine stands of northeastern, northwestern and Pacific Coast regions were among the most valuable timberlands in the United States. These pine species are among the most susceptible to blister rust. When large numbers of eastern white pine seedlings grown in European nurseries were imported to replant deforested areas, the rust came with them. The rust probably arrived in America about 1900, before there were any regulations restricting plant introductions, and was first discovered on currants in 1906 at Geneva, New York. It was found in 1909 on eastern white pine seedlings imported from European nurseries and on pines grown from local seed sources in 1915. Blister rust was introduced into the west on a single shipment of eastern white pine seedlings to British Columbia from France in 1910 but was not discovered until 1921. The rust spread rapidly and by 1950 was well established throughout the major white pine regions.

The white pines were valuable timber trees in the United States since the founding of the country. Before the American Revolution the British reserved all large white pine trees suitable for masts for exclusive use by the Royal Navy. In 1919, shortly after blister rust was discovered on native American white pines, the value of standing white pine timber was estimated to be over 1 billion dollars. Even today, a premium is still paid for logs of white pine over associated species. The value placed on white pines is reflected in the amount spent in trying to control the disease. An estimated $150 million was spent on the Ribes eradication program (Figure 13) and this does not include the resistance breeding programs In one peak year, 1949, over $6.5 million was appropriated for Ribes eradication. The 1955 U.S. Forest Service Timber Resources Review stated that of $3.8 million spent for direct control of forest diseases in 1952, $3.6 million (95 percent) was for blister rust control.


Figure 13	Figure 16

In some European countries and Canada, the fruit of currants and gooseberries has been valued more than the white pines. Figure 16 shows a collection of black, red, yellow and green currants and gooseberries grown for fruit (the large red berries on the middle right side are cranberries). These countries usually did not conduct Ribes eradication programs, but in recent years some have utilized disease resistant pines and cultural practices to combat the disease. Some rust-resistant gooseberries and red and black currants are now available from commercial nurseries.

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