A comprehensive assessment of source material for apple breeding for immunity and fruit quality

The results of years of studying new and promising varieties of Apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) grown in Southern Russia. Evaluation of Apple cultivars was carried out for resistance to the major fungal pathogens scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter) and powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha Salm.), the quality and marketability of fruits, the content of biologically active substances underlying the antioxidant  properties of fruits. An advanced method of polyploidy based on inclusion of parental forms with immunity to scab was applied in Apple selection. Integrated assessment of key biological traits of varieties and forms of Apple with diverse ploidy in unstable environments resulted in a selection of donors and sources of significant characteristics for Apple breeding such as resistance and immunity to major fungal pathogens, large fruit, bright red color of the fruit, improved chemical composition. High-quality varieties of Apple breeding in SKZNIISiV together with VNIISPK combining immunity to scab (the Vf gene) with high resistance to powdery mildew were selected: Fortune, Amulet, Carmen, Nika, Margo, Orfei, Souyz and others. Apple-tree grades, immune to scab, with a high viability of pollen (83–98%) were revealed: Azimuth, Vasilisa, Carmen, Lubava, Margo, Fortune, Liberty, Prima, Florina, Freedom. The promising parental forms passing to most of their hybrid progeny good tastes of fruits are Golden Delicious tetraploid, Wealthy tetraploid, Belle de Boskoop, Balsgard 0247 E, Papirovka tetraploid, and diploidy grades to Alkmene, Prima, Redfree and Kuban. Apple cultivars were revealed with high chemical indicators including the content of sugars: Orfei (10.8 %), Champion (10.5 %); vitamin C: Vasilisa and Souyz (more than 9.0 mg/100 g), hybrid form 44-24-49-uy (more than 11.4 mg/100 g); and P-active substances – Vasilisa, Lubava, Margo (more than 110.0 mg/100 g), whose use in breeding programs encourages the rapid creation of new genotypes with improved biochemical composition of fruits

Nomenclatural standards and genetic certificates for apple-tree cultivars developed at the North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, wine-making

Background. The development of genetic certificates and nomenclatural standards for newly released cultivars of Malus domestica Borkh. (apple tree) ensures an opportunity to preserve the original and authentic genetic and morphological information on domestic cultivars promising for the south of Russia. The purpose of this study was to develop genetic certificates and nomenclatural standards for 7 apple-tree cultivars developed at the North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Wine-making (NCFSCHVW), five of which were released jointly with the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK).Materials and methods. The materials included apple-tree cultivars resistant or immune to scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter) from the NCFSCHVW collection stock. Conventional herbarization and DNA fingerprinting methods were used. For cultivar certification, an improved technique of DNA sampling and 12 microsatellite markers were applied.Results. Unique DNA profile certificates and nomenclatural standards were produced for 7 apple-tree cultivars: ‘Vasilisa’, ‘Karmen’, ‘Krasny Yantar’, ‘Soyuz’ and ‘Rassvet’ (with the Rvi6 gene) released jointly by the NCFSCHVW and VNIISPK, plus ‘Zolotoye Letneye’ and ‘Feya’ developed at the NCFSCHVW. The apple-tree herbarium specimens were placed for perpetual storage in the WIR Herbarium of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR).Conclusion. The results obtained are promising for identification and authenticity verification of new domestic apple-tree cultivars during their reproduction and cultivation