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Disease Detection and Losses

Eastern White Pine Exhibits Growth Retardation by Fluctuating Air Pollutant Levels: Interaction of Rainfall, Age, and Symptom Expression. S. O. Phillips, Former Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, Senior author current address: Special Projects Forester, Missouri Department of Conservation, Columbia, MO 65201; J. M. Skelly(2), and H. E. Burkhart(3). (2)Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and Physiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061; (3)Associate Professor in the School of Forestry and Wildlife, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061. Phytopathology 67:721-725. Accepted for publication 21 December 1976. Copyright © 1977 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-67-721.

Growth inhibition of asymptomatic white pines subjected to three peaks in pollution levels during a 35-yr period was investigated. Four levels of symptom expression that developed in eastern white pine exposed to SO₂ and NO_x were used to categorize the sample trees for computer analysis of their respective growth rates. Analysis of regression correlations revealed no significant growth rate differences between symptom classes during pollution peaks; i.e., growth of asymptomatic trees was reduced as much as that of injured trees during peak pollution periods.