Key factors for causing poplar Ice Nucleation Active bacterial canker and its control techniques

The isolation, culture and the active determination of poplar ice nucleation active (INA) bacteria and the inoculation tests in laboratory and field were conducted, and the varieties, distribution and number of poplar INA bacteria and its pathogenicity and freezing injury property were determined. The study results showed that the INA bacteria widely spread on poplar in Northeast China and caused the frozen injury for poplar under the frost condition in Spring or Autumn, which was the key factor to induce INA bacterial canker. Through evaluation and investigation of different poplar varieties and inoculation tests, fine disease-resistant varieties and strains of poplar suitable for Northeast China were selected. Further tests for strong seedling showed that burying cuttings in sand and covering with plastic film could effectively avoid the frostbite, frozen and drought damage, reduce INA bacteria infection, and promote poplar growth. INA bacterial canker was detected early by highly specialized antiserums of INA bacteria and the agglutinated test of ring-shaped boundary surface. The inducers such as streptomycin, phenylmercuric acetae, salicylic acid and heat-killed bacteria to immerse cuttings, have obvious induced disease-resistant effect. Before poplar sprouted in early spring, through spraying the solution of frostbite agent, the control effect also was obvious. Foundation item: This paper was supported by National Foundation of Ninth Five-Year Plan (No.96-005-04-01-03). Biography: XIANG Cun-ti (1933-), male, professor in Collage of Forest Resources and Environment of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, P.R. China. Responsible editor: Zhu Hong