Bronze leaf disease of poplar

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Plant name(s): Poplar/aspen, especially Tower poplar and Swedish Columnar aspen

Symptoms / Characteristics:
In midsummer, leaves turn reddish-brown, beginning at the leaf edges and moving inward. Symptomatic leaves typically originate in the lower crown and eventually spread throughout the entire canopy. Discoloration may be observed as single leaves or entire branches. The interior tissue of infected branches and stems may also be bronze-colored. Leaf stems and veins often remain green. By late summer, the dark reddish-brown or bronze leaves dry up and curl inward. Infected leaves may remain on the tree until spring. The leaves of infected trees are underdeveloped and heavy infestation can lead to branch dieback.

© 2011 University of Manitoba Agricultural and Food Sciences Department of Plant Science