Hardwood Diseases

27. Poplar Leaf Rusts Michael E. Ostry and Jennifer Juzwik

Hosts All Populus species are potential hosts of poplar leaf fungi, Melamp­ sora species. Distinguishing different leaf rust species is often problematic. Com­ plexity in leaf rust situations is related to the extensive planting of many poplar species and interspecific hybrids, natural or human-aided movement of Melampsora species into new geographic regions, and the occurrence of Melampsora races (formae speciales). Furthermore, mixed race infections on single leaves and the evolution of natural hybrids of rust fungi contribute to this complexity. A critical need exists for monitoring poplar rust Figure 27.1—Uredinia pustules with urediniospores of on poplar leaf. Photo by Michael E. populations in this intricate system. Two Ostry, USDA Forest Service. poplar leaf rusts are dominant in the United States. In the East, larch is the alternate host of M. medusae; in the West, Douglas- fir is the alternate host for M. occidentalis. Infection of coniferous alternate hosts is confined to young needles and the damage is usually minor.

Distribution Melampsora leaf rusts affect native and introduced hybrid poplars throughout North America.

Damage Leaf rust can cause partial or com­ plete defoliation by midsummer, reducing Figure 27.2—Uredinia pustules with urediniospores of on poplar leaf. Photo by seedling vigor and quality. Premature Michael E. Ostry, USDA Forest Service. defoliation can predispose seedlings to environmental stresses and invasion by secondary damaging agents. rupture, large numbers of powdery and release powdery aeciospores. Aecia urediniospores are released. From late are preceded by an inconspicuous stage Diagnosis summer to autumn, yellowish crusts (pycnia) that produce their pycniospores (telia), darkening to brown, are produced in droplets (fig. 27.3). The uredinio­ On poplar leaves, look for orange- among the uredinia. On conifers, yellow spores, teliospores, and aeciospores of yellow spore-bearing (uredinial) pustules spots occur on needles as the aecial stage M. occidentalis are generally larger than (figs. 27.1 and 27.2). When these pustules develops. When mature, the aecia rupture those of M. medusae.

98 Forest Nursery Pests Hardwood Diseases

27. Poplar Leaf Rusts

to adjacent leaves, thus intensifying Selected References the disease on poplar hosts throughout the growing season. In the fall telia Innes, L.; Marchand, L.; Frey, P.; Bourassa, M.; Hamelin, R.C. 2004. First report of are produced, completing the annual Melampsora larici-populina on Populus disease cycle. Since both aeciospores and spp. in eastern North America. Plant Disease. urediniospores are windborne, infection 88: 85. of poplars can occur at considerable dis­ tances from conifer hosts. In areas of the Moltzan, B.D.; Stack, R.W.; Mason, P.A.; Ostry, M.E. 1993. First report of Melampsora Southern United States where ornamental occidentalis on Populus trichocarpa in the larch is grown, leaf rust epidemics can Central United States. Plant Disease. 77: 953. occur without need for windborne spores from larch in more northerly locations. Newcombe, G.; Chastagner, G.A. 1993. First report of the Eurasian poplar leaf rust Melampsora larici-populina in North Control America. Plant Disease. 77: 532–535.

Newcombe, G.; Chastagner, G.A. 1993. A Prevention Figure 27.3—Melampsora medusae pycniospore leaf rust epidemic of hybrid poplar along the Photo by Michael E. Ostry, lower Columbia River caused by Melampsora droplets on needles of larch. Planting poplar species and clones USDA Forest Service. medusae. Plant Disease. 77: 528–531. selected for resistance to the local Melampsora species population is the Newcombe, G.; Stirling, B.; McDonald, Biology most effective practice. Growing poplars S.; Bradshaw, Jr., H.D. 2000. Melampsora near coniferous alternate hosts will result xcolumbiana, a natural hybrid of M. medusae and M. occidentalis. Mycological Research. Melampsora species require a conifer­ in infection earlier in the season and 104: 261–274. ous alternate host to complete their life increased disease severity. In the South, cycle. The conifer species varies with remove susceptible evergreen poplars Ostry, M.E.; Wilson, L.F.; McNabb, Jr., H.S.; the rust species. Telia are produced on to reduce the amount of overwintering Moore, L.M. 1989. A guide to insect, disease, poplar leaves in the fall and appear as uredinia. Leaf microflora and saprophytic and animal pests of poplars. Agriculture Handbook 677. Washington, DC: USDA brown to black, crusty patches on fallen microorganisms have been shown to be Forest Service. 118 p. leaves. In spring, the teliospores in these antagonistic to rusts and may function fallen leaves germinate and produce as natural biological control agents. Shain, L. 1988. Evidence for formae speciales basidiospores, which are windblown to Planting large, monoclonal beds should in the poplar leaf rust fungus, Melampsora the developing needles of coniferous be avoided. This precautionary measure medusae. Mycologia. 80: 729–732. hosts where infection takes place. The minimizes a new rust species or race from Shain, L.; Filer, Jr., T.H. 1989. Cottonwood first fungal structures to develop on becoming damaging in the future. leaf rusts. In: Cordell, C.E.; Anderson, R.L.; infected needles are the pycnia, which Hoffard, W.H.; Landis, T.D.; Smith, Jr., R.S.; produce haploid spores (pycniospores) Chemical Toko, H.V., tech. coords. Forest nursery pests. associated with sexual reproduction. In Agriculture Handbook 680. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service: 90–91. summer, shortly after the pycnia develop, Application of fungicides labeled aeciospores are produced on the needles for control of Melampsora on poplar Stack, R.W.; Ostry, M.E. 1989. Melampsora and are windblown to poplar leaves. can reduce infection of leaves. Begin leaf rust on Populus in the North Central Yellow-orange uredinia pustules develop applying fungicidal sprays in the summer United States. In: Merrill, W.; Ostry, M.E., on infected poplar leaves and release when conditions are favorable for spore eds. Proceedings, IUFRO Recent Research on Foliage Diseases. GTR-WO-56. Washington, urediniospores that are carried by wind development, dispersal, and infection. DC: USDA Forest Service. 119–124.

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