Thoughts on pollen cones?

[Lazylightningny]

More to the point, how does one prevent them from being made?

Not every candle produces strobili. Some years there are more strobilied candles than others. With p. thunbergii, p, densiflora, p. bungeana, and maybe another pine, we can remove the strobilied candles and have them replaced in the same season - I've never seen strobili on 'summer candles' - why is that, I ask.

Unfortunately, something we can't do on 5-needle pines. Answer to your question- I have no idea!

And, while I am at it, what exactly is 'stress' in trees?
Too much water? Too little water? Too much dust in the air?

That there is a whole 'nother thread. Which I think I'll post right now, because I've done some thinking on that subject.