Virology

Impact of latent apple viruses on apple proliferation-resistant rootstock genotypes

One major focus of the section of Fruit crop diseases is the development of apple proliferation-resistant rootstocks. A natural resistance was found in Malus sieboldii and its derivatives. This resistance is currently used in a breeding program to introduce it into agronomically relevant apple rootstocks. During the screening for resistance, unexpected decline in the field, but also in inoculated in vitro plantlets, was observed, which could be correlated to latent apple viruses.

The aim of the project is to study the involvement of latent apple viruses (Apple stem grooving virus, Apple stem pitting virus, Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus) in the observed decline of apple trees. The involved latent apple viruses will also be characterised at the molecular level. Targeted and standardised inoculations of in vitro plantlets with single virus isolates, or a defined mixture of virus isolates, as well as with or without phytoplasma, will be performed to investigate the symptom expression of the different inocula. Such experiments will help defining the criteria for the selection of new varieties resistant to phytoplasma and tolerant to viruses, in order to develop resistant apple rootstocks which are not damaged by latent apple viruses.


Funding
Fonds für die Entwicklung ländlicher Räume in Rheinland-Pfalz (FELR) "Development of apple proliferation-resistant rootstocks with tolerance to latent apple viruses"


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