Elucidation of fire blight resistance and development of resistance markers

15.12.2006 - 31.12.2009
Assigned research project
Fire blight is a devastating bacterial disease leading to serious economic losses in pome fruit production (apple, pear, quince). Two different strategies should be emphasised to minimise the economic damage: a medium-term strategy and a long-term strategy. 1. Medium-term strategy: Development of methods for the protection of existing orchards and trees 2. Long-term strategy: Breeding of novel varieties, which are resistant or tolerant against fire blight This project aims at the elucidation of the underlying physiological and genetic mechanisms of quantitative resistance of apple against fire blight. The project focuses on the flavonoid metabolism, which essentially contributes to increased plant disease resistance. In addition, systematic molecular genetic experiments will investigate the involved genes, their expression and regulation and other factors of resistance. Genetic mapping and localisation of QTLs for fire blight resistance will enable the development of molecular markers, which may be used for marker-assisted selection of resistant cultivars and as valuable diagnostic tools for the evaluation of the resistance potential of cultivars, which are currently used in Austrian apple growing. Furthermore, enzymatic investigations will provide the basis for the evaluation of plant activators and different rootstocks.

People

Project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Contract/collaboration

  • Bundesministerium für Bildung Wissenschaft und Kultur

Keywords

GermanEnglish
Feuerbrandfire blight
ApfelApple
Flavonoideflavonoid
Biosynthese der FlavonoideFlavonoid pathway
PhloridzinPhloridzin

External partner

  • Seibersdorf Labor GmbH
  • AGES - Österr. Agentur für Gesundhe und Ernährungssicherheit GmbH

Publications