Management Strategies for Reducing Losses Caused by Fusiform Rust, Annosus Root Rot, and Littleleaf Disease

Robert L. Anderson - Supervisory Pathologist, USDA Forest Service, Southeastern Area, State and Private Forestry, Forest Pest Management, Ashville, N.C., and
Paul A. Mistretta - Supervisory Pathologist, USDA Forest Service, Southeastern Area, State and Private Forestry, Forest Pest Management, Pineville, La.

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Cooperative State Research Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 597, October 1982.

Fusiform Rust Management Practices

Nurseries or Seed Orchards

Management Practices Fusiform Rust
A.  Use protective chemical treatments. Time the first fungicide treatment to coincide with the development of tellia on oak leaves. Water and willow
oak are the best indicators.
B.  Cull seedlings with any obvious
     fusiform swellings on the stem.
Avoid movement of rust-infected stock from the
nursery or cull rust-infected seedlings before planting.
E.  Use seeds or seedlings that are
     resistant or less susceptible to
     disease.
Avoid planting rust-susceptible pines on high-hazard sites. (Use figs. 6 and 7 as a guide). Regeneration of high-hazard sites should be done with seeds or seedlings from:
  • Rust-resistant slash and loblolly pine seed orchards, or
  • Less susceptible species (e.g. longleaf, shortleaf, sand pine), or
  • Geographic areas of resistance (e.g. Livingston Parish, LA; east Texas; Maryland; Arkansas) or a mixture of these. Use resistant local sources when possible.
Avoid planting slash pine outside of its natural range.
G.  Modify fertilization practices. On moderate- to high-hazard sites, fertilization (which predisposes pines to infection by promoting more succulent tissue) should be delayed until trees are 8 to 10 years old. Lethal fusiform rust infections after age 10 are rare.

On low-harzard sites, fertilization will not increase infection significantly and improved growth will offset the impact of that increase.

H.  Prune or excise fusiform galls and
     cankers.
From midsummer to midwinter, remove limbs with infections more than 3 inches (7.5 cm) and less than 18 inches (45 cm) from the bole. Treat stem infections and branch infections that are 3 inches (7.5 cm) or closer to the stem by completely removing the bark, down to the wood, around the canker. Leave a margin of clear wood at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) on each side and 2 inches (5 cm) above and below the furthest extent of the canker. (Consult Matthews and Anderson 1979 for more details).

Consider pruning forested stands if the practice would bring the stand up to adequate, disease-free stocking.

I.  Reduce oak population when practical
    and when not in conflict with other
    management practices.
Consider using management techniques (e.g. hot summer burns before planting or herbicides), which reduce the amount of oak in or adjacent to pine plantings, nurseries, or seed orchards. Indiscriminate eradication of oak trees is not recommended, and careful attention should be given to the value of oaks for wildlife food and habitat, esthetics, and land values.

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