Pine wilt disease

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Donald,P.A., W.T. Stamps, and M.J. Linit. Pine wilt disease. The Plant Health Instructor. DOI:10.1094/PHI-I-2003-0130-01

DISEASE: Pine wilt disease

PATHOGEN: Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

HOSTS: Scots, Austrian, jack, mugo, and red pines and, less commonly, white pines.

Authors
P.A. Donald, USDA ARS, Jackson, TN
W.T. Stamps and M.J. Linit, University of Missouri


Pine wilt disease. (Courtesy P. Donald, copyright-free)

Symptoms and signs
Pine wilt is a dramatic disease because it usually kills affected trees within a few weeks to a few months (Figure 1). The pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) that causes death of the trees is microscopic.

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