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Rust mite resistance in apple assessed by quantitative trait loci analysis

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the genetic basis of rust mite (Aculus schlechtendali) resistance in apple (Malus × domestica). A. schlechtendali infestation of apple trees has increased as a consequence of reduced side effects of modern fungicides on rust mites. An analysis of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) was carried out using linkage map data available for F1 progeny plants of the cultivars ‘Fiesta’ × ‘Discovery’. Apple trees representing 160 different genotypes were surveyed for rust mite infestation, each at three different sites in two consecutive years. The distribution of rust mites on the individual apple genotypes was aggregated and significantly affected by apple genotype and site. We identified two QTLs for A. schlechtendali resistance on linkage group 7 of ‘Fiesta’. The AFLP marker E35M42-0146 (20.2 cM) and the RAPD marker AE10-400 (45.8 cM) were closest positioned to the QTLs and explained between 11.0% and 16.6% of the phenotypic variability. Additionally, putative QTLs on the ‘Discovery’ chromosomes 4, 5 and 8 were detected. The SSR marker Hi03a10 identified to be associated to one of the QTLs (AFLP marker E35M42-0146) was traced back in the ‘Fiesta’ pedigree to the apple cultivar ‘Wagener’. This marker may facilitate the breeding of resistant apple cultivars by marker assisted selection. Furthermore, the genetic background of rust mite resistance in existing cultivars can be evaluated by testing them for the identified SSR marker.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mauro Jermini and Danilo Christen (Agroscope Research Station ACW) for access to the study orchards; Heinrich Höhn (Agroscope Research Station ACW) for practical comments on rust mite filtration; Joel Meier and Hansjoerg Kull (Syngenta Crop Protection Dielsdorf) for advise on survey design; Michelle Schmocker and Christoph Rohrer for assistance with fieldwork; Caroline Baumgartner for help with mite filtration; Muhammad Khan and Giovanni Broggini (ETH Zurich) and Hans Jansen (Plant Research Wageningen) for great support in QTL analysis; Hans-Rudolf Roth, Werner Eugster, Massimo Merlini, and Rahel Liesch (ETH Zurich) for statistical consulting; Davide Gobbin (ETH Zurich) for the analysis of the pedigree of ‘Fiesta’ with SSR Hi03a10; and Cesare Gessler (ETH Zurich) for relevant aid in QTL analysis and comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ETH Zurich, Institute of Plant Sciences/Applied Entomology, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Sibylle Stoeckli, Karsten Mody & Silvia Dorn

  2. ETH Zurich, Institute of Integrated Biology/Plant Pathology, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland

    Andrea Patocchi

  3. Agroscope Changins-Wadenswil Research Station ACW, P.O. Box 185, Schloss, 8820, Wadenswil, Switzerland

    Andrea Patocchi & Markus Kellerhals

Authors
  1. Sibylle Stoeckli
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  2. Karsten Mody
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  4. Markus Kellerhals
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  5. Silvia Dorn
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Correspondence to Karsten Mody.

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Communicated by: A. Dandekar

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Stoeckli, S., Mody, K., Patocchi, A. et al. Rust mite resistance in apple assessed by quantitative trait loci analysis. Tree Genetics & Genomes 5, 257–267 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-008-0186-5

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