This is my first pine - pre-bonsai I have had. I am not sure if the yellowing needles on the branches and trunk is normal, or an indication of some ill state, this is a Pinus parviflora "IBO CAN" I purchased it from a bonsai Nursery in August.

I haven't done anything to it except water it, it has good root growth coming out of the nursery pot about an inch or so on 3 shoots.

I suspect it is normal needle shedding and would like confirmation

Hmm, I think that it's indeed needle shedding, because the newer needles are fully green with no yellow needles at all. If those turn out yellow too, then there's something with your tree but at this moment I shouldn't worry too much about it.

Yellowing of any leaf, be it pine needles or a normal leaf usually indicates sun burn, over watering, underwatering or disease. Pines usually take longer to show the needles getting brown. It could just be old growth dropping off the tree. I would just watch it for a bit longer and try to observe a pattern. If there is a pattern in the way the leaves are browning then check your watering, soil drainage and if those are alright it must either be too much harsh sun or the tree is diseased, if thats the case just check for spider mite etc.

You most probably know all of this info tho haha, its just the way i go about troubleshooting with trees!

There are some pines in the forest in my country and they all have the same yellowish needles as you have. The old ones are yellow and the newer ones are green.

Thanks folks, Ive checked for pests and there are none, so Ill keep an eye on it and hope for the best!

Yeah thats probably the best thing you can do at the moment. As Youri says it could just be a natural tree function. Although those photos look quite extreme

Its a fungal infection. Use one cap full of peroxide in 28 ounces of waster in a spray bottle.spray it once. Day for 3 weeks. Then taper it off. Pines recover slowly so don't give up on it.

Why do you know it's a fungal infection as I may ask? I haven't seen this before, when I saw it I was looking near my country for pines to see if it's normal for the time of the year and I saw the same as here but not so bad as here less yellower. Maybe I can post a picture of the trees here. It isn't looking good, but I don't know what the causer is, too much direct sunlight, watering, pests it could be a lot of things.

Anyway, I hope your tree will (fast!) get green again!

Yuri,
My pine had a very similar problem this spring. Same symptoms. Even if it weren't a fungal infection this mix won't harm the tree. My pine was diagnosed. By my bonsai mentor ...from France. I thank him often.

well so far this doesn't seem to be spreading beyond the currently affected areas, for interest sake i have scanned affected needles and some healthy ones an I cant see any pests even at 200%

you can view a fulll size image here

www.kerrygarvey.ca/images/bonsai/white-pine-needles.jpg