A EUROPEAN PROJECT : D.A.R.E. – DURABLE APPLE RESISTANCE IN EUROPE (FAIR5 CT97-3898)DURABLE RESISTANCE OF APPLE TO SCAB AND POWDERY-MILDEWONE STEP MORE TOWARDS AN ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY ORCHARD :

Most of today’s apple cultivars are susceptible to scab (Venturia inaequalis) and powdery-mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha). The use of large amounts of fungicides in orchard raises ecological problems, consumer’s health concerns in addition to the economic cost.
The D.A.R.E. project aims at developing knowledge, methodologies, plant and pathogen material to achieve durable genetic resistance towards these pathogens in the future.
The resistance/susceptibility of European cultivars towards several V. inaequalis and P. leucotricha inocula was assessed.
A large part of this plant material showed partial or complete resistance to numerous <i<V. inaequalis inocula. The European collection of V. inaequalis strains was settled.
A core-orchard including partial and complete scab resistant cultivars was planted in each participating country.
This orchard network will enable partners to observe the possible appearance of new V. inaequalis races and to assess the plant resistance stability in different environmental conditions.
Monoconidial strains of P. leucotricha were isolated and are now tested on a range of apple cultivars to define whether physiological races exist or not.
The genetic mapping of major genes and QTLs involved in fungi resistance is in progress.
A gene pyramiding strategy was initiated by crossing genotypes carrying complete and partial resistance to mildew and scab.
Consumer’s preferences were tested with scab resistant cultivars.

Eucarpia symposium on Fruit Breeding and Genetics

Y. Lespinasse, C.E. Durel, F. Laurens, M. Chevalier, C. Pinet, L. Parisi

Malus domestica, Venturia inaequalis, Podosphaera leucotricha, genetic mapping, gene pyramiding, consumer’s preferences

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.538.32