Department of Forestry Forest Genetics Lab

White pine genetic resistance to white pine blister rust

Jeremy uses common gardens, hyperspectral remote sensing, and landscape genetics to investigate patterns of natural genetic resistance in southwestern white pine and other 5-needle white pines to the non-native invasive fungal pathogen Cronartium ribicola, responsible for the disease white pine blister rust. He identifies patterns of both quantitative and qualitative resistance and then uses this information to aid in identifying spatial patterns of resistance across the species range. In addition, Jeremy works alongside collaborators at Oregon State University and the Dorena Genetic Resource Center to develop high throughput hyperspectral screening approaches to test whether pre-visual detection of the disease can be achieved.