Identification of scab resistance genes in new Hungarian apple hybrids using SCAR and SSR markers

Disease-resistant apple varieties are ideal selections as raw material for processing apple purée. The best apples for purée are those that are sweet and less acidic with a flesh that breaks down easily. For production of baby food apple purée yellow-skinned and yellow-fleshed fruits are preferred. Some promising scab resistant apple hybrids suitable for this purpose have been selected as part of a new Hungarian private apple-breeding program. These are also resistant to powdery mildew and could be grown with only a few pesticide applications each year. Considering the reports that certain scab races overcome the resistance of the scab resistant cultivars carrying the Rvi6 (Vf) gene only, within this apple-breeding program the main aim is pyramiding of resistance genes in the new genotypes. In current study resistance genes of seven new promising hybrids were detected. Rvi1 (Vg), Rvi2 (Vh2), Rvi4 (Vh4), Rvi6 (Vf), Rvi8 (Vh8) and Rvi15 (Vr2) resistance locus were analyzed using SCAR and SSR markers.