Evaluation of susceptibility poplar species and clones (Populus spp.) against two poplar key pests; Monsteira unicostata and Melanophila picta in Hamadan province

Monosteira unicostata (Mulsant & Rey.) (Poplar lace bug) and Melanophila picta Pall. (Poplar wood borer) are significant pests of poplar and willow trees in Hamadan province. The infestation levels of host plants to the pests were assessed across 11 native and exotic Poplar clones at a research station in Hamadan during 2010-2011. The Poplar clones, including species from Populus alba L., P. nigra L., P. deltoides Marsh., and P. x euramericana (Dode.), were assessed using a randomized complete block design with three replications. For M. unicostata survey, egg counts were conducted on both sides of the leaves by selecting four leaves of uniform size from the four cardinal directions at about 150-200 cm height in July and August. During the M. picta survey, a mesh fabric was wrapped around the main trunk of the trees, covering a height range of 10-110 cm, and the number of beetles present under the net was tallied weekly from June through August. The data were subjected to a mean comparison using Duncan''s test using SPSS v.16.0 software. Results indicated a significant variance in infestation rates among the clones. Specifically, Duncan''s test revealed that the clones P. deltoides missouriensis, P. x euramericana 214, P. nigra 75/2, and P. nigra 62/167 exhibited the highest to lowest numbers of M. picta on the trunks, respectively. Conversely, the clones P. alba 57/58 and P. nigra 62/149 had the highest and lowest counts of M. unicostata eggs on the leaves, respectively. Based on the findings of this study, P. nigra 62/149, P. nigra 62/167, and P. nigra 74/1 clones demonstrated the greatest adaptability and yeild, exhibiting a less infection to these two critical Poplar pests.