Hort. Sci. (Prague), X:X | DOI: 10.17221/196/2024-HORTSCI

Development of a hybrid apple population: MAS-based testing for Vf gene detection and preliminary field evaluation of its scab resistanceOriginal Paper

Georgeta Maria Guzu ORCID...1, Ioan Zagrai ORCID...1, Claudiu Moldovan ORCID...1, Smaranda Doina Roșu-Mareș ORCID...1, Luminița Antonela Zagrai ORCID...1, Anca Maria Chiorean ORCID...1, Mirela Irina Cordea ORCID...2
1 Fruit Research and Development Station Bistrița, Bistrița, Romania
Faculty of Horticulture and Business in Rural Development, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 0362
$2

The apple scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis, is one of the most devastating diseases of apples because it drastically affects the aerial parts of the tree. Apple breeding programs frequently aim to develop cultivars exhibiting resistance to scab. Thus, controlled pollinations were performed on apple trees in 2021. The experiment was organised into a hybridisation scheme involving six apple cultivars. The scheme consists of: five female genitors (‘Auriu de Bistrița’, ‘Jonathan’, ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Starkrimson’, and ‘Idared’) and one male genitor (‘Florina’ – donor for the Vf). To quickly identify the Vf gene in the early development stage of progenies, three pairs of primers were used: AM19, AL07, and VFC. The hybrid combinations with the highest percentage of progenies inheriting the Vf resistance gene were: ‘Starkrimson’ × ‘Florina’ (59.2%), followed by ‘Jonathan’ × ‘Florina’ (57.1%). The hybrids that inherited the Vf resistance gene have been transferred to the field and are being further examined for their resistance against scab infections in the field, in the proximity of a natural source of the inoculum infection pressure.

Keywords: marker-assisted selection; molecular markers; monogenic resistance; Rvi6 gene; Venturia inaequalis

Received: October 22, 2024; Revised: May 23, 2025; Accepted: August 12, 2025; Prepublished online: March 5, 2026 

Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Addinsoft XLSTAT (2022): Statistical and Data Analysis Solution; Addinsoft: New York, NY, USA.
    2. Afunian M.R., Goodwin P.H., Hunter D.M. (2004): Linkage of Vfa4 in Malus × domestica and Malus floribunda with Vf resistance to the apple scab pathogen Venturia inaequalis. Plant Pathology, 53: 461-467. Go to original source...
    3. Bastiaanse H., Bassett H.C., Kirk C., Gardiner S.E., Deng C., Groenworld R., Chagné D., Bus V. G. (2016): Scab resistance in 'Geneva' apple is conditioned by a resistance gene cluster with complex genetic control. Molecular Plant Pathology, 17: 159-172. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    4. Belete T., Boyraz N. (2017): Critical review on apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) biology, epidemiology, economic importance, management and defense mechanisms to the causal agent. Journal of Plant Physiology & Pathology, 5: 2.
    5. Bénaouf G., Parisi L. (2000): Genetics of host-pathogen relationships between Venturia inaequalis races 6 and 7 and Malus species. Phytopathology, 90: 236-242. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Bivolariu G., Zagrai I., Zagrai L., Cordea M.I., Moldovan C. (2021): Molecular screening of some apple progenies for detection Vf gene using marker assisted selection. Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Horticulture, 78: 36-40. Go to original source...
    7. Bühlmann-Schütz S., Hodel M., Dorfmann E., Jung M., Broggini G.A.L., Patocchi A. Kellerhals M. (2022): Forty years of scab resistance breeding in apple at Agroscope. In: 31st Int. Horticultural Congress (IHC2022): International Symposium on Breeding and Effective Use of Biotechnology and Molecular Tools in Horticultural Crops. Vol. 1362, ISHS: 253-262. Go to original source...
    8. Bus V., Rikkerink E., Aldwinckle H.S., Caffier V., Durel C.E., Gardiner S., Gessler C., Groenwold R., Laurens F., Le Cam B., Luby J., Meulenbroek B., Kellerhals M., Parisi L., Patocchi A., Plummer K., Schouten H.J., Tartarini S., Van de Weg W.E. (2009): A proposal for the nomenclature of Venturia inaequalis races. Acta Horticulturae, 814: 739-746. Go to original source...
    9. Calenge F., Faure A., Goerre M., Gebhardt C., Van de Weg W.E., Parisi L., Durel C.E. (2004): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis reveals both broad-spectrum and isolate-specific QTL for scab resistance in an apple progeny challenged with eight isolates of Venturia inaequalis. Phytopathology, 94: 370-379. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    10. Cociu V., Oprea Șt. (1989): Research Methods in Fruit Tree Breeding. Cluj Napoca, Dacia Press. (in Romanian)
    11. Cordea M.I. (2014): Horticultural Plant Breeding Practical Work. Cluj Napoca, AcademicPres. (in Romanian)
    12. Fisher R.A. (1925): Statistical Methods for Research Workers. Edinburgh, Oliver & Boyd.
    13. Fries E. (1819): Spilocaea pomi. Fr. Novitiae Florae Svecicae, 5: 79.
    14. Gao Z.S., Van de Weg W.E. (2006): The Vf gene for scab resistance in apple is linked to sub-lethal genes. Euphytica, 151: 123-132. Go to original source...
    15. Guzu G., Zagrai I., Zagrai L., Cordea M., Moldovan C. (2021): Molecular screening of some apple progenies for detection Vf gene using marker assisted selection. Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Horticulture, 78: 36-40 Go to original source...
    16. Höfer M., Flachowsky H., Schröpfer S., Peil A. (2021): Evaluation of scab and mildew resistance in the gene bank collection of apples in Dresden-Pillnitz. Plants, 10: 1227. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    17. Kaymak S., Kaçal E., Öztürk Y. (2013): Screening breeding apple progenies with vf apple scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cke.) Wint.) disease resistance gene specific molecular markers. In: Integrated Protection of Fruit Crops, IOBC-WPRS Bulletin, Vol. 91: 361-365.
    18. Khajuria Y.P., Kaul S., Wafai B.A., Dhar M.K. (2014): Screening of apple germplasm of Kashmir Himalayas for scab resistance genes. Indian Journal of Biotechnology. 13: 448-454.
    19. King G.J., Tartarini S., Brown L., Gennari F., Sansavini S.: (1999): Introgression of the Vf source of scab resistance and distribution of linked marker alleles within the Malus gene pool. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 99: 1039-1046. Go to original source...
    20. Lasserre-Zuber P., Caffier V., Stievenard R., Lemarquand A., Le Cam B., Durel C.E. (2018): Pyramiding quantitative resistance with a major resistance gene in apple: From ephemeral to enduring effectiveness in controlling scab. Plant Disease, 102: 2220-2223. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    21. Lespinasse Y. (1992): Breeding apple tree: Aims and methods. In: Proc. Joint Conf. E.A.P.R. Breeding and Varietal Assessment Section and the EUCARPIA PotatoSection. Landerneau, January 1992: 103-110.
    22. Madenova A., Aitymbet Z., Bolat M., Kaldybayeva D., Galymbek K., Kuan A., Kabylbekova B., Irkitbay A., Yeszhanov T., Bakirov S., Sapakhova Z. (2024): Screening of apple cultivars for scab resistance in Kazakhstan. Horticulturae, 10: 184. Go to original source...
    23. McClure K.A., Gardner K.M., Douglas G.M., Song J., Forney C.F., DeLong J., Fan L., Du L., Toivonen P.M.A., Somers D.J., Rajcan I., Myles S. (2018): A genome-wide association study of apple quality and scab resistance. The Plant Genome, 11: 170075. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Militaru M., Sturzeanu M., Iancu A. (2020): Molecular screening of some Romanian apple cultivars for scab resistance genes. Fruit Growing Research, 36: 5-11. Go to original source...
    25. Militaru M., Călinescu M., Mareși E., Iancu A., Song Y. U., Shin Y.S. (2022): Evaluation of scab and powdery mildew resistance of apple germplasm collected at RIFG Pitesti. Fruit Growing Research, 38: 26-31. Go to original source...
    26. Minoiu N., Bilegan M. (1990): Scientific Research in the Service of Agricultural Research. Cluj Napoca, Intreprinderea Poligrafică. (in Romanian)
    27. Pasqualetto G., Wiedow C., Bus V., Malnoy M., Martens S., Kumar S., Chagné D., Gardiner S. (2019): Confirmation of intergeneric hybrids between apple and pear. In: 15th Eucarpia Symp. Fruit Breeding and Genetics. Prague, June 3-7, 2019: P8.
    28. Patocchi A., Wehrli A., Dubuis P.H., Auwerkerken A., Leida C., Cipriani G., Passey T., Staples M., Didelot F., Philion V., Peil A., Laszakovits H., Rühmer T., Boeck K., Baniulis D., Strasser K., Vávra R., Guerra W., Masny S., Ruess F., Le Berre F., Nybom H., Tartarini S., Spornberger A., Pikunova A., Bus V.G. (2020): Ten years of VINQUEST: First insight for breeding new apple cultivars with durable apple scab resistance. Plant Disease, 104: 2074-2081. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    29. Pătrașcu B., Pamfil D., Sestraș R., Botez C., Gaboreanu I., Barbos A., Qin C., Rusu R., Bondrea I., Dirle E. (2006): Marker assisted selections for response attack of Venturia inaequalis in different apple genotypes. Notulae BotanicaeHorti Agrobotanici, 34: 121-133.
    30. Pereira-Lorenzo S., Fischer M., Ramos-Cabrer A.M., Castro I. (2018): Apple (Malus spp.) breeding: Present and future. In: Al-Khayri J., Jain S., Johnson D. (eds): Advances in Plant Breeding Strategies: Fruits. Cham, Springer. Go to original source...
    31. Rancāne R., Valiuškaitė A., Stensvand A. (2023): Primary inoculum of Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) Wint. in its asexual form in apple - A review. Frontiers in Horticulture, 2: 1175956. Go to original source...
    32. Roșu Mareș S., Guzu G., Zagrai I., Puia C. (2022): An apparent breakdown of Vf resistance occurring in an apple orchard in Bistrita area. Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Horticulture, 79: 47. Go to original source...
    33. Sestraș R. (2004): Breeding of Horticultural Crops. Cluj-Napoca, Academic Pres.
    34. Sheikh M.A., Bhat K.M., Mir J.I., Mir M.A., Nabi S.U., Bhat M.A., Ahmad H., Shafi W., Zaffer S., Jan. S., Raja W.H. (2017): Phenotypic and molecular screening for diseases resistance of apple cultivars and selections against apple scab (Venturia inaequalis). International Journal of Chemical Studies, 5: 1107-1113.
    35. Sokolova O., Moročko-Bičevska I. (2022): Evaluation of apple scab and occurrence of races on differential genotypes in Latvia. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences, 76: 488-494. Go to original source...
    36. Soriano J.M., Joshi S.G., Van Kaauwen M., Noordijk Y., Groenwold R., Henken B., van de Weg W.E., Schouten H.J. (2009): Identification and mapping of the novel apple scab resistance gene Vd3. Tree Genetics & Genomes, 5: 475-482. Go to original source...
    37. Stewart K., Passey T., Verheecke-Vaessen C., Kevei Z., Xu X. (2023): Is it feasible to use mixed orchards to manage apple scab? Fruit Research, 3: 28. Go to original source...
    38. Sturzeanu M., Militaru M., Călinescu M., Maresi E., Mihaescu C. (2020): Screening of apple progenies for Vf scab resistance using specific molecular markers. Acta Horticulturae, 1289: 43-48. Go to original source...
    39. Șuta V., Floru Ș. (1974): Protection of Fruit Trees and Shrubs, București, Editura Ceres. (in Romanian)
    40. Švara A., De Storme N., Carpentier, S., Keulemans W., De Coninck B. (2024): Phenotyping, genetics, and "-omics" approaches to unravel and introgress enhanced resistance against apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) in apple cultivars (Malus× domestica). Horticulture Research, 11: uhae002. Go to original source...
    41. Tartarini S., Gianfranceschi L., Sansavini S., Gessler C. (1999): Development of reliable PCR markers for the selection of the Vf gene confering scab resistance in apple. Plant Breeding, 118: 183-186. Go to original source...
    42. Vejl P., Skupinová S., Blažek J., Sedlák P., Bardová M., Drahošová H., Blažková H., Milec Z. (2003): PCR markers of apple resistance to scab (Venturia inaequalis CKE.) controlled by Vf gene in Czech apple breeding. Plant Soil and Environment, 49: 427-432. Go to original source...
    43. Volk G.M., Cornille A., Durel C.E., Gutierrez B. (2021): Botany, taxonomy, and origins of the apple. In: The Apple Genome. Cham, Springer International Publishing: 19-32. Go to original source...
    44. Zahid G., Iftikhar S., Farooq M.U., Soomro S.A. (2022): Advances in DNA based molecular markers for the improvement of fruit cultivars in Pakistan - A review. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 38: 812-832. Go to original source...
    45. Zelmene K., Kārkliņa K., Ikase L., Lācis G. (2022): Inheritance of apple (Malus× domestica (L.) Borkh) resistance against apple scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) Wint.) in hybrid breeding material obtained by gene pyramiding. Horticulturae, 8: 772. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0.), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return