Screening of Indian wild apple accessions with scab and powdery mildew disease resistant gene specific molecular markers Gautam Vikrant, Modgil Manju* Department of Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan173230Himachal Pradesh, India *Email for correspondence: manju_modgil@yahoo.com
Online Published on 20 December, 2022. Abstract Investigations on resistance to pathogens within local wild populations is the most efficient way for developing resistant cultivars in breeding programmes. In this study, Indian wild crab apple (Malus baccata Borkh var Himalaica) accessions maintained at two field gene banks in Himachal Pradesh were screened to find out the resistant sources. Individual trees were tested for the presence/absence of Vf, Vrl and Vbj scab resistant and Pl1 and Pl2 mildew resistant genes with eight and one SCAR markers respectively tightly linked to these genes. The potted plants were evaluated after the inoculation of pathogen. All the accessions showed diversity in relation to resistant gene to both the pathogens. All the SCAR markers K08, T06, Al07, Am19, ACS07, ACS09, Z13 and S22 were present in eight crab apple accessions. PLBJ SCAR marker linked with major genes Pl1 and Pl2 was detected in six accessions. Molecular marker assessment results almost corresponded to the data received in pot assay experiments thus were in good agreement. The study confirmed that these accessions carry scab and mildew resistant genes which could play important role in selection of desirable genotypes for apple breeding as well as use as suitable rootstock. Top Keywords Crab apple, SCAR markers, Disease, Resistance, Genes. Top |