Variation Among Poplar (Populus Deltoides Bartr.) Clones for Growth, Wood Traits and Tolerance to Leaf Spot Diseases

Abstract

Poplar is economically important and fast growing tree species which is widely adopted by farmers of northwest India. The nursery study was conducted for two years to find out clonal variation for plant height, collar diameter, biomass, wood traits and incidence of leaf spot disease. Results found significant differences among the clones for all growth traits, specific gravity and fiber length. Clones L-290/84, 22-N and L-50/88 were promising for tree height and collar diameter during 1st year study. In 2nd year the tree height was highest in L-7/87 but was at par with L-34/82. L-7/87, L-247/84 and L-48/89 were promising for diameter. Clones L-48/89, L-7/87, 22-N, L-247/84, S7C8, and WSL-22 recorded superiority for both above ground and root biomass. The maximum fiber length was recorded in clone WSL-29 (0.936 mm) which was at par with those of WSL-22, L-17/92 and L-50/88. The wood specific gravity ranged from 0.383 to 0.498. Clone L-290/84 was at top rank but statistically par with 40-N, G-48, L-50/88 and T-90. The relative resistance for leaf spot was the higher in L-290/84, 40-N and WSL-29 in 1st year, and WSL-29, L-17/92, L-290/84, 22-N, 40-N, S7C8, and L-48/89 were found to be resistant during 2nd year. On the basis of all the traits clones L-48/89, 22-N, L-290/84, 40-N, and WSL-22 have shown promise and need to be tested at multiple sites before commercial cultivation.