Observations on some Italian provenances of Melampsora populnea. Part III

In order to detect the presence of Melampsora pinitorqua in some Italian provenances of Melampsora populnea on Populus tremula from mountain zones of probable pine twist rust outbreak, the rust provenances from six areas typical of Melampsora larici-tremulae distribution but suitable for the survival of M. pinitorqua, were considered. Teliospore germinability tests and subsequent basidiospore inoculations on Pinus sylvestris and Larix deciduas with these six provenances of M. populnea were carried out. The results indicated that in the provenance of M. populnea from Camigliatello M. pinitorqua is present; therefore this area is at the greatest risk of twist rust epidemics which are, as yet, unrecorded on new plantations of Pinus nigra subsp. laricio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]