Exploring resistance mechanisms in the S. musiva - Populus interaction

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Over the last several decades world demand for forest products such as timber and fiber have increased and the corresponding land area available to help meet these demands has decreased. As a result forest companies have begun to explore plantation forestry as a means of offsetting the reduction in land available while maintain a steady fiber production. Plantations of fast growing hybrid poplar have been the species of choice across Canada. However, the increased plantation of these tree species is often accompanied by an increased insect and disease outbreaks. Of particular interest is a disease called Septoria canker pathogen. While this disease infects leaves, causing leaf spots, and woody tissue, causing cankers, the majority of the economically important damage is a result of cankers on woody tissues. Studies focusing on both fundamental and applied aspects of poplar-Septoria pathogen interaction in combination with clear impacts on the potential short- and long- term success of hybrid poplar plantations in Canada are clearly needed. We propose multiple studies to develop a better understanding of Septoria-poplar interactions and reduce damage to poplar plantations, and thus improve quality and quantity of fiber production. In our studies, we will (1) investigate a range-wide genetic analysis of the Septoria pathogen and artificially inoculate hybrid poplars with different strains of the pathogen. This will provide a description of the pathogen population genetics across its range, which can then be compared with disease severity of the pathogen, (2) describe the mode by which the Septoria pathogen enters into host tissue and causes disease, and (3) examine the resistance mechanism employed by poplar trees by comparing the defensive chemicals produced by resistant and susceptible trees after exposure to different strains of the pathogen. We expect that the outcome of this project will be useful to a broader community involved in poplar disease management and a more targeted community of Septoria pathogen investigators and poplar growers in Canada, as well as the resulting information will support the development of fiber management strategies that are aimed at reducing losses due to Septoria canker.