The Vh8 locus of a new gene-for-gene interaction between Venturia inaequalis and the wild apple Malus sieversii is closely linked to the Vh2 locus in Malus pumila R12740-7A

The wild apple (Malus sieversii) is a large-fruited species from Central Asia, which is used as a source of scab resistance in cultivar breeding. Phytopathological tests with races of Venturia inaequalis were performed to differentiate scab-resistance genes in Malus as well as an avirulence gene in the pathogen. A novel gene-for-gene interaction between V. inaequalis and Malus was identified. The locus of the scab-resistance gene Vh8 is linked with, or possibly allelic to, that of the Vh2 gene in Malus pumila Russian apple R12740-7A, at the lower end of linkage group 2 of Malus. Race 8 isolate NZ188B.2 is compatible with Vh8, suggesting the loss or modification of the complementary AvrVh8 gene, while isolate 1639 overcomes both Vh2 and Vh8, but is incompatible with at least one other gene not detected by any of the other race isolates tested. Our research is the first to differentiate scab-resistance genes in a putative gene cluster in apple with the aid of races of V. inaequalis.

Molecular Identification of a Sexual Interloper: The Pear Pathogen, Venturia pirina, has Sex on Apple

ABSTRACT Venturia pirina (the pear scab pathogen) and V. inaequalis (the apple scab pathogen) were detected as ascospores discharged from apple leaf litter in New Zealand (spring 1998). Pseudothecia of both species were located on dead apple leaves; however, only those of V. inaequalis were associated with scab lesions. V. pirina was identified by rDNA sequence analyses, because morphological characters could not distinguish this fungus from V. asperata (a rare saprophyte on apple) and other Venturia spp. pathogenic on rosaceous fruit trees. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction primers designed to the 18S end of the internal transcribed spacer 1 region differentiated Venturia fruit tree pathogens reliably. V. pirina field isolates were pathogenic on pear, but only weak saprophytes on apple. In rare instances, when appressoria of V. pirina appeared to penetrate the cuticle of apple leaves, epidermal cells responded with a localized hypersensitive response (HR). To our knowledge, this is the first report of induction of HR-like events by V. pirina on its nonhost, apple, and also the first record of sexual reproduction of V. pirina on apple. It is assumed that V. pirina pseudothecia formed from saprophytic lesions in senescing apple leaves when active defense mechanisms such as HR were no longer induced.