Guardian - Scotch Pine Likely Next In Line To Fall To Twin Invasive Disease Threat
Scientists have pinpointed the Scots pine as the next well-loved British tree species that could fall victim to foreign pathogens. They believe that the expected devastation triggered as ash dieback disease sweeps Britain – which could see most of the country's 90 million ash trees killed off – could soon be followed by a second invasion.
Pinus sylvestris is considered to be particularly vulnerable because two major pests that attack it have already established themselves in western Europe: the pine wood nematode, a worm that infects pine trees and causes pine wilt, and the fungus Fusarium circinatum, which causes the disease pitch canker. Both pathogens are poised to spread to Britain, say tree experts, and a simultaneous double attack would be devastating. The Scots pine is the national tree of Scotland and is distinctive for its blue-green needles and rich orange-red bark. It is also an important source of timber in the UK.
"I am extremely worried about the Scots pine," said Dr Steve Woodward, reader in tree pathology at Aberdeen University. "It is an iconic tree to these islands and it is particularly vulnerable to these two tree pathogens, both of which have established themselves in France, Spain and Portugal and are causing tremendous damage there."
Woodward was speaking last week at a briefing at the Science Media Centre where leading researchers outlined the risks now facing the forests, woods, gardens and parks of Britain following the discovery that ash dieback, caused by the fungus Chalara fraxinea, has established itself.
EDIT
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/nov/03/scots-pine-tree-diseases
= new reply since forum marked as read
