Objective Because of its fast growth and easy vegetative propagation, poplar is a perfect candidate, in temperate climates, for timber and biomass production. It also offers a solution for the valorisation of some lands abandoned by agriculture. Sylvicultural practices (including short rotation coppices) and breeding strategies have evolved recently, but consequently, host parasite relationships have changed: some diseases were magnified like bacterial bark necrosis and Hyoxylon mammatum canker, clones have lost their resistance with the emergence of new rust races. The main aim of the project is to forecast and evaluate such risk, to incite and help poplar breeders to select for stable tolerance to diseases and to propose to foresters a better choice and a clever management of poplar clones. The project was divided in 2 main tasks. The first part concentrated on forecasting new phytosanitary risks due to the variability in pathogenity of bacteria and fungi, and to evolution of the bacteria and fungi populations. The pathogenicity and biochemical features were investigated from bacterial canker, bark necrosis, leaf spots and foliar rust. In bacterial canker there was variability in aggressiveness and it was also proved that interactions exist between strains and poplar clones (the strain which is the more pathogenic on one clone may be less aggressive on another clone). Concerning leaf spots the clonal effect was also found highly significant. in this part of the project a collection of more than 30 strains of bark necrosis was established by the partners. In the second part of the project the possibility to control the pathogens by identifying hosts with more stable resistance than in the past was studied. The behaviour of different poplar clones against pathogenic bacteria and fungi was evaluated and methods to evaluate the host's resistance were improved.Pathogen variability (rust and bacterial canker) is explored, searching for host pathotype interactions and biochemical variability within European populations of the parasites. Geographical distribution, host range and evolution of the frequency of the most virulent pathotypes are studied in order to forecast the risks. Growth restriction and weakening (reduction in storage of the bark proteins) are evaluated on susceptible clones to identify the impact of the rusts. Clones are studied for their reaction to rusts, bacterial canker, bacterial bark necrosis and H mammatum to identify clones with a sufficient tolerance to all pathotypes already discovered. When necessary, tests are developed to allow such clone assessment or to reduce the duration of the tests. In some cases, ecological and sylvicultural factors that may modify resistance are taken into account. At the end of the project, new bases for breeding poplar will be available such as genetic basis of resistance, its heritability and somaclonal variations. Seven laboratories from Belgium, France and Italy cooperate in this project which implies various complementary methodologies such as microbiology, biochemistry, etiology, testing clones, controlled crosses and in vitro culture. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic zonesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologyagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestrysilviculturecoppicingnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologymycology Programme(s) FP2-FOREST - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the fields of raw materials and recycling - Renewable raw materials: Forestry and wood products (including cork) -, 1990-1992 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) EU contribution No data Address Centre de Recherche de Nancy Champenoux 54280 Seichamps France See on map Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) France EU contribution No data Address 43 boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne See on map Total cost No data Centre National du Machinisme Agricole, du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts France EU contribution No data Address Domaine des Barres 45290 Nogent-sur-Vernisson See on map Total cost No data GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITY GOETTINGEN Germany EU contribution No data Address Buesgenweg 2 37077 GOETTINGEN See on map Total cost No data Rijksstation voor Populierenteelt Belgium EU contribution No data Address 4,Gaverstraat 9500 Geraardsbergen See on map Total cost No data Società Agricola e Forestale per le Piante da Cellulosa e da Carta SpA Italy EU contribution No data Address Per Frassineto Po 35 15033 Casale Monferrato (AL) See on map Total cost No data Universitá degli Studi di Torino Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Pietro Giuria 15 10126 Torino See on map Total cost No data
