Status of the European race of Scleroderris canker in Canada

Abstract

The European (EU) race of Gremmeniella abietina (Lagerb.) Morelet, the causal agent of scleroderris canker of conifers, is a damaging pathogen in pine forests. In North America, this disease is found in the northeastern United States and in eastern Canada. Results from surveys conducted across Canada since 1979 are updating us on where this disease is found. In Newfoundland, only the EU race has been recorded and it is restricted to the Avalon Peninsula Contrary to earlier reports in the Maritime provinces, only one pine plantation is infected by the EU race in New Brunswick. In Ontario, a total of 171 plantations are infected and they are clustered in the central portion of the southern part of the province. The number of plantations infected by the EU race in Quebec is the highest in Canada with 749 plantations. In the four provinces, the most infected species is red pine (86% of the infected plantations), followed by two exotic species, Scots pine (9.5%) and Austrian pine (3.2%). White pine and jack pine show resistance to the disease. Key words: Brunchorstia pinea, Pinus resinosa, reforestation, Scleroderris lagerbergii