Reduced confidence intervals and novel candidate genes for quantitative trait loci associated with apple scab resistance in Malus domestica
Lapous, R.; Haquet, C.; Denance, C.; Benejam, J.; Perchepied, L.; Hellyn, K.; Muranty, H.; Durel, C.-E.; Ferreira de Carvalho, J.
Crop Improvement
The apples at your grocery store or farmers market likely come from orchards drenched in fungicides to fight apple scab — this research brings us closer to naturally resistant apple varieties that need far fewer chemical sprays.
Apple scab is a nasty fungal disease that forces apple growers to spray pesticides dozens of times per season. Researchers studied nearly 2,000 apple trees from a single family cross and found four specific spots in the apple genome that help trees fight off this disease on their own. They also identified the particular genes at those spots that seem to be doing the defensive work, which means breeders can now select for these traits much more precisely when developing new apple varieties.
Key Findings
Four of five candidate resistance regions (QTLs) were validated in a population of 1,970 apple trees, with one region (qF3) failing to confirm
43 newly developed genetic markers substantially narrowed the location of each resistance region, making them far more useful for breeding programs
Candidate genes identified include receptor-like proteins and RNAi-related genes, suggesting apple trees use multiple, complementary defense strategies against the fungus
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists identified and narrowed down four genetic regions in apple trees that help them resist apple scab, a destructive fungal disease, and found the specific genes likely responsible — opening the door to breeding disease-resistant apples without heavy pesticide use.
Abstract Preview
Apple scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis, remains one of the most damaging diseases in apple orchards, driving intensive pesticide use worldwide. Reducing this dependence requires the deployment o...
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An apple is the round, edible fruit of an apple tree. Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple, the most widely grown in the genus, are cultivated worldwide. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found. Apples have been grown for thousands of ...