| Abstract: | Rust (Melampsora epitea var. epitea) is the single most limiting factor in the production of biomass from short rotation coppice willow. The use of fungicides is unacceptable for economic, environmental and practical reasons. Consequently, clonal mixtures were investigated as an alternative disease control strategy. At one of two sites Salix × dasyclados, Salix burjatica ‘Korso', S. burjatica‘Germany’, Salix viminalis‘Bowles Hybrid’ and S. viminalis‘683’ were included in the clonal mix. At the second site six clones were used. These were as above with the exception of S. burjatica‘Korso’ and including, Salix × calodendron, Salix mollissima-undulata‘SQ83’. At both sites all clones were also planted in monoclonal stands. Throughout each growing season disease levels were recorded on individual clones, both in monoclonal stands and mixtures. Fungicide treatments were included to compare their effectiveness to mixtures in reducing disease impact. Growing willow in mixed clonal stands delayed the onset of disease, slowed its build up and resulted in lower disease levels at the end of the growing season. These reductions in disease impact contributed to the increased yields obtained from clonal mixtures and were generally comparable to those achieved with fungicides. |
