A Molecular Marker Linked to a Scab Resistance Gene (Vf) in Apple

Abstract

Apple scab, caused by Venturia inaequalis (Cke.) Wint., is the most serious disease of apple trees. Resistance to V. inaequalis, derived from the small-fruited species Malus floribunda 821, is determined by a major dominant gene Vf. Our major objective is to identify RAPD markers linked to the Vf gene. The approach in this paper is based on the introgression of the Vf gene from M. floribunda into commercial cultivars. Almost 200 random sequence decamer-primers have been used to screen a pair of bulked samples and the donor parent M. floribunda clone 821 for markers linked to the Vf gene conferring resistance to apple scab. A single primer has been identified which generated a PCR fragment, OPK16/1300, from the donor parent M. floribunda clone 821 and the scab-resistant selections/cultivars bulk, but not from the scab-susceptible recurrent parent bulk. Co-segregation analysis using a segregating apple progeny and polymorphism analysis of individual scab-resistant Coop selections/cultivars have confirmed that this marker is linked to the scab-resistance gene Vf. OPK16/1300 has since been cloned and sequenced. Sequence-specific primers of 25 oligonucleotides based on the marker have been synthesized and used to screen further M. floribunda clone 821, scab-susceptible apple cultivars, scab-resistant apple cultivars, and scab-resistant Coop selections. The sequence-specific primers have identified polymorphisms of OPK16/1300 based on the presence or absence of a single band.