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Disease Impact in Cottonwood Plantations

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Previous reports have indicated that stem cankers and foliage diseases are the most important disease problems in eastern cottonwood plantations in the southern United States. In a recent survey of 1- to 11-year-old plantations in Arkansas,Louisiana, and Mississippi, incidence of stem cankers was 4 percent or less in most age classes and foliage diseases, while present, had caused no serious defoliation. Tree mortality was less than 4 percent in most age classes and almost all of the mortality was attributed to suppression and wind damage, rather than disease. In several age classes, including the youngest, more than 20 percent of planting spaces were unoccupied. A possible explanation for the unoccupied planting spaces is found in previous reports which indicate that canker diseases can cause losses of 20 percent during the first growing season.

Keywords

Populus deltoides, disease impact, growth reduction, mortality

Citation

Weis, M. J.; Collins, R. J.; Filer, T. H., Jr.; Peacher, P. H. 1972. Disease Impact in Cottonwood Plantations. In: USDA-Forest Service, Southeastern Area State and Private Forestry. 245-256.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/43133