Characterization of bronze leaf disease in western Canadian aspen and poplar trees

Aspen and poplar trees are important horticultural plants grown in Canada for aesthetic, commercial woodlot windbreak applications. Bronze leaf is a destructive disease Populus spp. caused by the fungal pathogen Apioplagiostoma populi Barr. This often difficult to isolate confirm from infected plant tissues has been mainly identified symptoms morphological characteristics of A. when fruiting bodies form on leaves or branches. Affected branches typically become necrotic bronze colour. Air-borne spores nursery shipments containing play an role efficient movement pathogen. In this study, samples symptomatic were examined microscopically perithecia asci. Pathogen-specific genomic sequences development sensitive stringent diagnostics that indicated petioles most effective detecting populi. Leaf collected characterize asci ascospores. Disease associated DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 5.8S region nuclear ribosomal, ?-tubulin 2, translation elongation factor-1-? chain, isolated tree samples. Morphological molecular biological data study characterized relationship epidemiology enabled rapid diagnostic methods restrict extent further losses amenity plantings aspen poplar.