Leaf growth characteristics of fast-growing poplar hybrids Populus trichocarpa x P. deltoides

Fast-growing hybrid poplar trees (Populus trichocarpa Torr. & A. Gray x P. deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.) were compared with slower-growing parental types in both field and laboratory experiments to determine physiological components of leaf growth that could be closely related to biomass production. Stem volume was correlated with individual leaf area (r = 0.81) and leaf growth rate (r = 0.82). Hybrids had a greater total leaf area, not because they produced more leaves, but because they had larger leaves than either parental type. The greater leaf size of the hybrids may be explained by inheritance of larger cell number from P. deltoides and larger cell size from P. trichocarpa. Rates of enlargement of isolated leaf discs in liquid culture were approximately 50% of those observed in intact leaves of field-grown plants.