Poplar rust (Melampsora medusae) causes serious damage in nurseries and has been frequent in commercial fields, mainly in susceptible clones. The behavior of the clones in the field in relation to this disease is as yet unknown in Brazil. The aims of this study were to quantify the disease's progress in the field in seven poplar clones and to correlate disease with production using incidence, severity, leaf area index (LAI) and diameter at breast height of a man (DBH). Evaluations were made monthly, from November to April, during the 98/99, 99/00 and 00/01 cycles. Disease incidence and severity, leaf area duration (LAD- integralization of LAI), and diameter at breast height (DBH) were assessed in clones 'Argos', 'Gaupiara', 'Guarani', 'JB', 'Latorre', 'SJ' and 'SM'. The most susceptible clones were Latorre and Guarani, clone SJ was resistant and Guapara, SM, JB and Argos were moderately susceptible. The logistical model showed a good fit to disease severity in the three cycles assessed. The epidemic was more severe in the 99/00 cycle when the temperature varied from 26.5 to 15.5 ºC. No significant correlation was obtained between disease severity and DBH. In the susceptible clones, the LAD was related to DBH and the coefficient of determination in linear regression was 0.73 and 0.56 in Guarani and Latorre, respectively. The latter clone was tolerant to disease; the percentage of DBH reduction was only 5%, while the clone Guarani showed 17% of reduction of DBH in relation to treated plants.
Populus spp.; varietal resistance
