Pine-pine gall rust, also known as western gall rust, is a fungal disease of pine trees. It is caused by Endocronartium harknessii, an autoecious, endocyclic, rust fungus that grows in the vascular cambium of the host. The disease is found on pine trees with two or three needles, such as ponderosa pine, jack pine and scots pine. It is very similar to pine-oak gall rust, but its second host is another Pinus species. The fungal infection results in gall formation on branches or trunks of infected hosts. Gall formation is typically not detrimental to old trees, but has been known to kill younger, less stable saplings. Galls can vary from small growths on branch extremities to grapefruit-sized galls on trunks.
Pine-pine gall rust
Missoula County, Montana, 2019
Sierra County, California, 2021
Jasper, Alberta, 2024
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the ponderosa pine, bull pine, blackjack pine, western yellow-pine, or filipinus pine, is a very large pine tree species of variable habitat native to mountainous regions of western North America. It is the most widely distributed pine species in North America.
Pinus ponderosa
Pinus ponderosa in Idaho
Ponderosa pines at Quartz Mountain Pass, Oregon
Subspecies P. p, scopulorum, Custer State Park, South Dakota