• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.1-17
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• 2003

Populus species have been as a model species in tree breeding and we have enormous varieties resulting from the poplar breeding because of their fast growth performance and short rotation age. New varieties developed in Korea are common italian poplar(P euramericana, I-214, I-476), P euramericana“Eco 28”(Italian poplar No.1) and p. deltoides“Lux”(Italian poplar No.2), which were introduced from foreign countries. As hybrid polars, Hyun-Sasi(p. alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa No.1, No.2, No.3, No4.), P. nigra x P. maximowiczii and P. koreana x P. nigra val. italica, were developed, and P. davidiana was selected as the result of selection breeding The total plantation areas covered with the new varieties are 935,162ha that include 745,773ha of P. euramericana, 184,636ha of P. alba x P. glandulosa, and other new varieties are 4,735ha. The new poplars are contributed to increase farmer's income as well as bare land tree-planting in Korea. The technologies associated with the poplar species were developed, such as the determination of optimum site for new the poplar species, the crossing method between incompatible poplar species, and the vegetative mass propagation. In the future, poplar species will be considered for phytoremediation species at contaminated areas such as landfill sites or with lives stock's waste water as well as wood production, a shade tree like road-side tree and public park tree.