Pests and diseases of Poplar (Populus spp.) in New Zealand

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Fungal diseases
The most significant poplar diseases in New Zealand are caused by the poplar leaf rust Melampsora larici-populina (Fig. 1) and the leaf spot or anthracnose fungus Marssonina brunnea (Fig. 2). Both of these leaf diseases thrive in our cool, moist environments and cause early defoliation, reduced root and stem growth, and dieback in susceptible cultivars.

Bacterial diseases
In addition to diseases caused by fungi, individual plants within a monocultural planting may suffer bacterial blast and stem cankering caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae and Xanthomonas campestris . this is more common in balsam poplars and some hybrids with black poplars. Affected plants may suffer shoot blackening (Fig. 6) and partial or complete dieback to ground level. If affected tissues are cut away cleanly, however, resprouting from below the damaged zone usually occurs.

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