The presence of Melampsora lariei-tremulae Kleb. and M. pinitorqua Rostr. in the saine area (Pizzorne, Lucca) was proved by studying differences between periods of teliospore germinability and by inoculations on pycnio-aecial hosts., , . The life cycles and pathogenicity of these two rusts were separately studied in a controlled environment and^ compared to those of M. lariei-tremulae from Bressanone and M. pinitorqua from Monticiano. observations on some Italian provenances of M. populnea 73 '•"•• -H 38 -•=•' -(i", + = infection on seedling stem present. -= in--1-epicotyl" in herbaceous seedlings and "shoot axis" in seedlings 132 B. Naldini Longo, N. Longo, F. Moriondo and F. Drovandi Receipt ofms.: J. 2. 1987