Hello Mary Beth.

Thank you for your questions.

For some reason the first attached pic was not fully visible but the second was clear.

My best guess is white pine blister rust.

Symptoms include yellow dying needles that often drop early and cankers that usually girdle branches and trunk.

Infection of pines by this fungus occurs through the stomates in the needles between midsummer and early fall when weather is wet.

If it is indeed white pine blister rust, it is not treatable on the trunk and will spread to other pine trees.

However, before taking any drastic actions, I suggest sending in a plant sample for scientific analysis to determine if this is definitely white pine blister rust.

Below is a link for packaging and sending it.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/submit-samples/

Hello Mary Beth.

I see the additional pics that you have attached now.

Although I hope that it isn’t, the additional pics make me think even more that it could be white pine blister rust.

I have some beloved pine trees myself and hope that I’m wrong about your trees.

I am attaching a couple of links that show pics and descriptions of this ailment.

https://pddc.wisc.edu/2015/08/19/white-pine-blister-rust/

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5302971.pdf

According to the second attached link by the USDA, it is spread by a fungus called Cronartium ribicola – not necessarily pine tree to pine.

There is no definitive distance – the USDA references 1,000 feet to possibly a few miles via spores travelling by wind.

I have not found a definitive time line for spread but the same link discusses the life cycle of the fungus which spreads the disease is short (a few months) as well as appearance and effects of the disease 2 -3 years later.

If it were only present on the branches, it is advisable to prune the affected branches.

However, I am concerned that your pics show discoloration on the trunk of the tree.

I’m also reading that this disease is prevalent and spread from currants and gooseberries to pine trees if you have any of these.

PLANT ANALYSIS

I thought that it had been discontinued during covid – but believe that The Ohio State University diagnostics lab is currently functioning again.

I’ve attached the link below.

https://ppdc.osu.edu/forms/plant-diagnostic-form

The submission instructions are the same as MSU-

• Select branches that have a good transition from dying to living tissue.

• For help in selecting these transition areas, look at the leaves on the branches. If leaves are beginning to wilt towards the end of the branch but the branch still has some healthy leaves present, select this type of limb.

• Select 5 or 6 branches that are about the diameter of your index finger (about 1 inch) and cut them to about 8-12 inches long.

• Enclose them in to a plastic bag to maintain the tissues moist.

• Place the bag with the branches in a shipping box.

• Complete a Plant Diagnostic Form for the sample and place it in a separate plastic bag to protect it from any moisture.

• Seal the box and ship using next day delivery service.

Definitely send the images that you sent me with your plant samples too.

The cost for basic testing is $20 above and beyond shipping.

Link below -

https://ppdc.osu.edu/fees

I hope this helps.