ARS | Publication request: Resistance of apples from the Kazakhstan germplasm collection to postharvest decay caused by Penicillium expansum

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 10, 2007
Publication Date: June 1, 2007
Citation: Janisiewicz, W.J., Saftner, R.A., Conway, W.S., Forsline, P.L. 2007. Resistance of apples from the Kazakhstan germplasm collection to postharvest decay caused by Penicillium expansum. Phytopathology, 97:S51

Technical Abstract: Despite causing significant losses, apple breeders do not evaluate crosses for resistance to blue mold, caused by Penicillium expansum, because historically there has been little resistance to this decay in this gene pool of germplasm they use a new apple germplasm collection from the center of origin in Kaskhstan, maintained in Geneva, NY, represents a broader gene pool and was evaluated for resistance to blue mold. Apples from 83 accessions were harvested at preclimacteric or early climacteric stage, wound-inoculated with P. expansum at 10 X 3, 10 X 4, and 10 X 5 conidia/ml and incubated for 5 d at 24 degrees C, before evaluating for decay severity and incidence. Two accessions were classified as immune (no decay at 10 X 3 and 10 X 4 conidia/ml), four as resistant (no decay at 10 X 3), 53 as moderately resistant (lesions<10 mm at 10 X 3), and 24 as susceptible. The immune and resistant accessions may not only serve as the source of resistance in breeding programs, but they may be instrumental in explaining resistance of apples to blue mold.