Tree Diseases Spreading in Maine

White pines across Maine are being affected by several pathogenic fungi. The fungi are afflicting white pine trees causing needles to discolor and drop. While the fungi are currently not causing much damage beyond the discoloration of needles and the thinning of tree tops, if unchecked, the affected pine trees could begin to die.

This disease is not new in the northeast: forestry officials say the fungi affecting white pines have been present and active throughout the region for the last 8 years. The fungi generally infect white pine needles in early spring, then grow within the tree throughout the year. The following spring is when the symptoms appear, with needles rapidly falling off and becoming discolored. The effects of the disease are usually evident in June, at the end of spring and beginning of summer.

The pathogens responsible for the disease have been identified as several different fungi. These fungi have spread with the higher levels of precipitation, thriving in moist habitats. The most common fungus is known as brown spot. With the rising prevalence of fungi, trees have begun dropping their needles and showing discoloration in greater numbers, worrying many property owners.

Forestry officials say woodlot owners should not be hasty, however. Property owners are advised to contact forestry officials or local arborists to assess the damage before making any decisions. In many cases, trees that have dropped their needles are not dead and may very well recover from the disease.

At the current time, there is no treatment for the white pine disease. Foresters hope to see a change in weather or other climate conditions that might cause the pathogenic fungi to abate. The only present plan to try and stem the epidemic is to attempt a thinning of the diseased strands, hopefully giving individual trees better chances of survival.