Variation of growth traits of progenies of twenty-three cross combinations in Populus was analysed,and genetic variation among parents was studied by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism(AFLP).The results showed that growth traits of progenies and molecular genetic distance(GD) among parents had considerable variation.Correlation and regression analysis between molecular genetic distances among parents and growth traits of progenies indicated that the relationship between GD and growth was linear equation in a certain range(0.024 9～0.368 1),and that the relationship was quadratic parabola equation in a wide range(0.024 9～0.531 4).If the genetic distance among parents in Populus would range from 0.19 to 0.36,the ultimate effect of hybridization could be achieved based on the established relationship between GD and growth.
