Healthy forests are essential for wildlife, recreation, timber and capturing carbon to fight climate change. In British Columbia, forestry companies must replant logged areas and ensure young trees grow well within 10–20 years. But tree diseases can make this difficult and expensive. One of the biggest threats is white pine blister rust, an invasive disease that has devastated western white pine, a tree valued for its ability to adapt to climate change and as an alternative to Douglas fir in disease-prone areas.

To combat this, the BC Ministry of Forests, Forest Improvement and Research Management Branch has a program to breed white pine trees that are naturally resistant to blister rust. The strongest resistance comes from a single gene called Cr2 (Complement Receptor 2) , but finding trees with this gene is slow and uncertain. Currently, seedlings must be exposed to the disease and monitored for symptoms, a process that takes time and can be inaccurate. There’s also no reliable way to check if planted trees carry the gene or to track rust strains that can overcome this resistance.

This project aims to change that by using genomics to create affordable and accurate DNA-based tools for selecting and monitoring tree disease. Researchers will create portable tests for on-site detection of the Cr2 resistance gene in seedlings and identify genetic markers associated with rust strains that can overcome Cr2 resistance and threaten resistant trees. These tools will help tree breeders and forestry companies select the right trees faster and monitor forests more effectively.

By reducing the selection, monitoring and reforestation costs of planting western white pine, these innovations will increase reforestation success and ultimately support the long-term sustainability of British Columbia's forests.