White Pine Blister Rust and Gooseberries/Currants

[Phantomfyre]

I was just watching Living the Country Life on RFD-TV, and they were talking about gooseberries. I was dismayed that they did not mention white pine blister rust as a concern with growing these plants. But it brought to mind a question/concern of mine...

I have been considering adding currents and gooseberries here, but have been hesitant to do so because of the concern over white pine blister rust. I've read about the disease, and know that "ribes" plants (gooseberries and currants) are the alternate (and required for its life cycle) host for the disease. The neighbors to either side of us have planted white pines, and I'd hate to see them lost because of something I did. HOWEVER, we already have wild gooseberry growing all over the place (almost invasively) in the area.

So I wonder, what's the REAL risk of me planting domesticated varieties of gooseberry and currant? Provided I am careful to get healthy stock, would I really be putting the neighbors' trees at risk since there are already wild gooseberries in the area?

[Michael Kawalek]

I would be carefull to select a variety that has known resistance to blister rust. Here is a nursey that sells Jahn's variety with known resistance.
http://www.burntridgenursery.com/fru...t=33&parent=28