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A rapid and efficient in vivo inoculation method for introducing tree stem canker pathogens onto leaves: suitable for large-scale assessment of resistance in poplar breeding progeny

Summary

Researchers developed a faster, easier method to test whether poplar trees can resist stem canker diseases caused by fungi. Instead of using time-consuming tests on woody stems, they inoculated fungal pathogens directly onto leaves and measured disease symptoms after 5 days. This new leaf-based method works just as well as traditional methods but is much quicker and requires fewer resources, making it ideal for testing large numbers of hybrid poplar trees in breeding programs.

Background

Poplar trees are susceptible to stem canker diseases caused by pathogens like Valsa sordida and Botryosphaeria dothidea, which are major contributors to forest diseases in China. Traditional in vitro stem segment inoculation methods for assessing disease resistance are time-consuming, require significant space and resources, and limit efficient screening of hybrid breeding populations.

Objective

To develop and validate a rapid, efficient in vivo leaf inoculation method for assessing resistance to stem canker pathogens in poplar hybrid clones, as an alternative to conventional in vitro stem segment inoculation methods.

Results

The leaf inoculation method successfully induced necrotic lesions and pycnidium structures on poplar leaves within 5 days. Upper leaves showed higher resistance than lower leaves, shaded leaves were more susceptible than light-exposed leaves, and 4-day-cultured mycelium showed higher pathogenicity than 7-day-cultured. Resistance assessment of 48 hybrid clones revealed distribution into seven resistance groups with strong correlation between leaf and stem inoculation methods (R² values 0.52-0.84).

Conclusion

The novel in vivo leaf inoculation method is rapid, efficient, cost-effective, and produces results consistent with traditional stem segment inoculation. This method is particularly suitable for large-scale resistance screening in poplar breeding programs and demonstrates promise for broader application in tree stem disease resistance breeding and pathological research.
  • Published in:Plant Methods,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: 10.1186/s13007-025-01360-1; PMID: 40128764; PMCID: PMC11934469
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