Screening of apple progenies for Vf scab resistance using specific molecular markers

Apple scab is a widespread and the most important fungal disease of apples in temperate regions.
Almost all scab resistant cultivars released from different apple breeding programs in the world carry the Vf scab resistance gene derived from the small-fruited species Malus floribunda clone 821. This study was done at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania and the objective was to verify the relationship between molecular markers presence and scab resistance under natural infection conditions.
About 790 apple progenies, deriving from five crosses (‘Generos’ × ‘Crimson Crisp’, ‘Crimson Crisp’ × ‘Generos’, ‘Topaz’ × ‘Crimson Crisp’, ‘Crimson Crisp’ × ‘Ariwa’, ‘Fuji’ × ‘Enterprise’) were tested.
The phenotypical selection made in the field was completed by marker assisted selection using AL07, AM19 and U1₄₀₀ markers, in order to detect the presence of the Vf gene.
For PCR analyses only 133 pre-selected seedlings without symptoms on the leaves were used.
The study confirmed the resistance both by phenotypic and molecular screening as well, therefore can play an important role in designing future molecular breeding programmes in apple for introgression of scab resistant genes.

IV Balkan Symposium on Fruit Growing

M. Sturzeanu, M. Militaru, M. Călinescu, E. Maresi, C. Mihaescu

apple, marker-assisted selection, resistance, Venturia inaequalis

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2020.1289.6