Disease Losses in North Carolina Forests: I. Losses in Softwoods, 1973–1974. W. R. Jacobi, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27650. E. B. Cowling, Associate Dean, School of Forest Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27650; and N. D. Cost, Resource Analyst, and J. P. McClure, Principal Resource Analyst, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, NC 28802. Plant Dis. 64:573-576. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1980. DOI: 10.1094/PD-64-573.

Renewable Resource Evaluation data provided useful estimates of the incidence of certain diseases in North Carolina softwoods. Poor form, suppression and stagnation, fusiform rust, and heart rot were the primary causes of damage to softwoods. Fusiform rust was most prevalent in the Southern Coastal Plain on slash, loblolly, and pond pines, affecting 17, 9, and 6%, respectively. Sapling-and pole-size trees were affected most commonly except for pond pine, which had a high incidence on sawtimber-size trees. Basal injuries of various types, including fire and logging wounds, provided infection courts for most of the heart rot observed. The average percentage of cull in heart-rotted trees was highest on those with broken tops, fire scars, and other basal injuries. Littleleaf disease caused moderate damage (0–4%) to shortleaf pine in all regions of the state. With the exception of pond pine, slash pine, and baldcypress, most of the softwood species were relatively healthy (85–90%).