History of Peridermium Stem Rust of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Thetford Forest, East Anglia

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Abstract
‘Peridermium’ stem rust ( Peridermium pini (Pers.) Lev.) has been present in Thetford forest for at least 40 years, but has only become a major problem during the last decade. Survey data are presented which show that there has been a dramatic increase in the disease in crops of Scots pine between 1964, when with less than one per cent of the trees showed symptoms, and 1979, when the figure was 10 per cent. The disease has apparently spread outwards from a central focus in the middle of the forest. In four plots the proportion of trees with visible symptoms has increased in five years from an average of 28 per cent to 46 per cent. However, only 1–2 per cent of the trees have died annually, and it appears that many trees with ‘dead tops’ may survive for long periods. The situation in Thetford seems to contrast with that in north-east Scotland, where limited data suggest there has been no appreciable increase in disease incidence during recent years. There are only two records of the disease on Corsican pine ( P. nigra var. maritima (Ait.) Melville) in Thetford.

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