A New Threat to Limber Pine () Restoration in Alberta and Beyond: First Documentation of a race () Virulent to -Controlled Major Gene Resistance.

The coevolution of virulence reduces the effectiveness of host resistance to pathogens, posing a direct threat to forest species and their key ecosystem functions. This exacerbates the threat to limber pine (), an endangered species in Canada due to rapid declines mainly driven by white pine blister rust (WPBR) as caused by . We present the first report on a new virulent race (designated ) that overcomes limber pine major gene () resistance (MGR).

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Polygenic Architecture for Limber Pine Quantitative Disease Resistance to White Pine Blister Rust.

Development of durable resistance effective against a broad range of pathotypes is crucial for restoration of pathogen-damaged ecosystems. This study dissected the complex genetic architecture for limber pine quantitative disease resistance (QDR) to using a genome-wide association study. Eighteen-month-old seedlings were inoculated for resistance screening under controlled conditions.

Association Mapping and Development of Marker-Assisted Selection Tools for the Resistance to White Pine Blister Rust in the Alberta Limber Pine Populations.

Since its introduction to North America in the early 1900s, white pine blister rust (WPBR) caused by the fungal pathogen has resulted in substantial economic losses and ecological damage to native North American five-needle pine species. The high susceptibility and mortality of these species, including limber pine (), creates an urgent need for the development and deployment of resistant germplasm to support recovery of impacted populations. Extensive screening for genetic resistance to WPBR has been underway for decades in some species but has only started recently in limber pine using seed families collected from wild parental trees in the USA and Canada.