Breeding and Evaluation of Black and Balsam Poplar Clones regarding Yield and Tolerance to Leaf Rust in four FastWOOD Trial Series

Results from poplar clone trials containing material selected and bred within the FastWOOD joint research project for the purpose of biomass production in short rotation coppice (SRC) are presented. Since 2010 within four trial series an overall number of 16 trial sites managed in three year long rotation cycles were established covering the area of Germany. In these series 110 clones from species and hybrids from the poplar sections Aigeiros and Tacamahaca were tested together with a set of up to 12 standard clones. Besides biomass yield additional parameters that are important for a successful cultivation of SRC were observed. These include especially the susceptibility to plant pathogens like the poplar leaf rust Melampsora larici-populina. Trial sites from the first two series 603 and 604 have already been surveyed during two rotation cycles. A considerable increase in yield from the first to the second rotation was monitored. Multiple clones have shown a superior performance regarding yield within both rotations towards the proven and tested control-clone 'Max 1'. Furthermore the tolerance properties of these high yielding clones against the leaf rust Melampsora larici-populina proved to be better than the overall series average and 'Max 1' Combining all series most superior clones are balsam poplar hybrids from the crossing of P. maximowiczii x P. trichocarpa. The most recent established trial series 606 produced a mean yield of 6,14 t(atro) ha(-1) a(-1) within the first rotation cycle which is clearly above average in comparison with the older series.