Evaluating growth and resistance of eastern and western white pine to white pine weevil and blister rust in the northeast

Abstract

Eastern white pine is highly susceptible to damage from white pine weevil, and to some extent white pine blister rust, in the northeastern United States. Western white pine has shown resistance to the weevil, but is highly susceptible to blister rust in the West. Objectives of this study were to compare the growth and resistance of eastern and western white pine to damage from the weevil and blister rust and to identify families of western white pine suitable for planting in the East. A field trial containing 76 half-sib families of western white pine and two half-sib families of eastern white pine was established in 1983 at two sites, one each in New York and Maine. After 14 yr, tree height and diameters were measured, and resistance to weevil and rust assessed. Tree height and diameters were significantly greater for eastern white pine than western white pine. Western white pine sustained approximately fourfold less weevil damage at both sites, but was more impacted by rust at one site. Cluster and discriminant analyses were used to group families using three variables: height growth, resistance to weevil, and resistance to blister rust. One single group combined superior height growth with moderate resistance to both pests. Selections made from within these families have the most promise for planting western white pine in the East.