Red Pine Pocket Mortality - Impact

Infected trees will have reduced height and diameter growth. As disease progresses, successful invasion by the pine bark beetles occur. Infestation by the pine bark beetle kills the tree. Red pine pocket mortality has NOT been observed in jack or white pine plantations. White pine regeneration within pockets also appears to be unaffected by this syndrome. The number of infection centers in a stand can vary widely. Infection centers create gaps in the forest canopy where brush and early successional trees can regenerate.

Both Annosum root rot and red pine pocket mortality can occur in the same stand and even within the same pocket.