Collection and survey of native and exotic Poplar cultivars in a selection nursery

Rapid population growth at Iran and subsequent increase in wood and non-wood products demand, resulted in great attention to the fast growing tree species such as the poplars to be used for plantation programs and decrease the wood shortage. A traditional method of cultivating different poplar species and cultivars has been applied centuries ago at northern and western areas of Fars province. These poplars were usually used for wind break establishment and building materials. The poplar plantations cover about 1500 ha land area which their wood product is not enough for the various established wood industries at Fares province. For this reason, it was necessary to identify the fast growing and high yield and quality poplar clones by conducting research programs. The trial of collecting native exotic poplar species and cultivars was conduction a nursery at Fares province in 1990 for three years to introduce the most successful species and clones in respect to growth characteristics, adaptability to environment condition and resistant to pests and diseases. The examined poplar species and clones were as follows:P.ciliata, P.trichocarpa, P.deltoides, P.euramericana, (Nine clones), P.alba (Seven clones) and P.nigra (42 native an exotic clones). The data was analyzed by spss computer program. The results showed that the outstanding species and clones were as follows:1- Native and exotic clones of P.nigra: P.n. 69.14, P.n. 69.10, P.n. 69.13, P.n. 42.54, P.n. 56.21 and P.n. 63.135.2- P.euramericana clones: P.e. costanzo, P.e. 561.41, P.e. 154 and P.e. triplo.3- P.trichocarpa