Agricultural and forest stakeholders: on the alert! Emergence of a new strain of white pine blister rust
White pine blister rust, caused by the exotic fungus Cronartium ribicola, has been present in North America since the early 20th century. This pathogenic fungus spends part of its life cycle on Ribes (black currants, red currants or gooseberries), before attacking and killing white pine. Now, a new strain of the disease has recently been discovered in northeastern North America. Should agricultural and forest stakeholders be concerned about this new development?