Mechanisms of resistance of white spruce to the spruce bud moth

Abstract

There is a genetic basis to resistance of open-grown white spruce trees to their primary pest, the spruce bud moth, Zeiraphera canadensi Mutt. and Free. Resistance is attributable to late bud-burst and unknown factors associated with higher predation and parasitism of eggs and mortality of old larvae. Results suggest that tree resistance could be incorporated with other silvicultural procedures into an integrated management program for white spruce.