The problem of the growing and breeding of healthy aspen at the present time

The problem of the growing and breeding of healthy aspen is widely discussed in Russian forestry. Aspen wood is characterized by specific features and may be indispensable in particular parts of economy. The main difficulty for wide exploitation of aspen forests is a low quality of wood in the most part of aspen stands, which explained by lose of aspen polypore. This problem was the first discussed by academician A.S. Yablokov (1949) and in the USSR the great number of investigations were made, but for the present time this problem is relevant for Russian forestry. The publications of recent years are reviewed and discussed at the article. The assessment of the state of the question of growing and breeding of healthy aspen at the present time in Russia are covered in the article. This is important, because last two decades together with traditional research methods the methods of molecular genetics, gene engineering and biotechnologies become available for the scientists. Also, the sphere for using traditional research methods, for example, dendrochronologycal method become wider.