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FPL 45 - Needle Rusts of the True Firs

The information accessed from this screen is based on the publication: Wegwitz, E. 1981. Needle Rusts of the True Firs. Forestry Canada, Forest Insect and Disease Survey, Forest Pest Leaflet No. 45 8p.

Introduction

Of the 12 needle rusts of true firs (Abies spp.) known to occur in the Pacific Region (5), only six cause any appreciable damage. In order of importance (6), they are:

fir -fireweed rust (Pucciniastrum epilobii Otth) common fir -bracken rust (Uredinopsis pteridis Diet. & Holw.) Hashioka's fir -bracken rust (Uredinopsis hashiokai Hirat. f.) fir -willow rust (Melampsora abieti -capraearum Tub.) fir -lady-fern rust (Uredinopsis longimucronata Faull) fir -blueberry rust (Pucciniastrum goeppertianum (Kuehn) Kleb.)

These rusts belong to the family Melampsoraceae of the order Uredinales (rust fungi).

The most important rust on true firs, the fir broom rust ( Melampsorella caryophyllacearum Schroet.), which causes prominent witches' brooms, is the subject of a separate pest leaflet (2).

Generally, these rusts enjoy a widespread distribution throughout the northern hemisphere although their incidence varies from area to area and from year to year. While they can infect all native true firs, some species are more commonly infected than others. Because of their widespread distribution and their capacity for living on all true firs, they have a large damage potential. However, due to their complex life cycle, this threat is seldom realized.

For more information, see the Needle Rusts of the True Firs Forest Pest Leaflet in the Canadian Forest Service bookstore.