Diseases

Poplar rust

Populus L.

A fungal disease of poplar caused by heteroecious pathogens of the genus Melampsora. It manifests as a bright yellow coating of uredinia on the underside of leaves, causing premature defoliation and weakening of the tree.

In the reference 35 varieties crop Poplar, where this is mentioned in the description.

The causative agents of the disease in poplar are the fungi Melampsora larici-populina, Melampsora allii-populina, Melampsora medusae, Melampsora larici-tremulae, and Melampsora pinitorqua. They undergo a life cycle with an alternation between the primary host (poplar) and intermediate plants, such as larch, onion, or pine.

Symptoms include the appearance of powdery orange-yellow uredinia on the leaves, which are eventually replaced by dark brown telia. The infection leads to premature leaf fall and delayed shoot lignification, which reduces the plant's winter hardiness and increases the risk of secondary infections.

Rust pathogens are characterized by significant intraspecific diversity and the presence of pathotypes capable of overcoming the resistance of cultivated varieties. To analyze this variability, sets of differential host plants are used, and breeding is conducted through the selection of resistant clones and hybrids.

General information about the subject — on the page Rust.

Sources8

Varieties of Poplar mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.