A project to identify and map scab and powdery mildew resistance genes in apple

Apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) and powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) are the two most important fungal pathogens in apple orchards. To control these pathogens, a lot of plant protection treatments are applied per season in commercial fruit production. An important approach for more sustainable apple production and less environmental damage is the cultivation of apple cultivars resistant to scab and powdery mildew. The aim of this project is to advance the breeding process of new cultivars resistant to scab and powdery mildew by identifying and introducing new resistance genes. The objectives are to phenotype scab and powdery mildew at three different locations in Germany, to identify and map apple scab and powdery mildew resistances from genetic resources and M. orientalis, and to develop and validate KASP assays for powdery mildew and scab resistance genes.