LIFE CYCLE AND GENETIC DIVERSITY OF WILLOW RUSTS (Melampsora spp.) IN EUROPE

The paper is a review of classical and recent studies on willow rusts in Europe, with special reference to short rotation coppice willows used for biomass production, such as common osier willow (Salix viminalis L.). The review presents the taxo-nomic classification of rust fungi from the genus Melampsora spp. We present a list of telial hosts (genus Salix) as well as ae-cial hosts for different rust species. The life cycle of this fungal pathogen is described in detail from the epidemiological and genetic point of view. The DNA polymorphism of M. larici-epitea, the rust species most responsible for severe yield losses of plant biomass, is characterised based on RAPD, AFLP and RFLP-PCR methods. Key words: willow, Salix sp., rust, Melampsora spp., life cyc-le, genetic diversity, short rotation coppic