Karlström, Amanda
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- National Insititute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB)
- University of Reading
Abstract
European canker, caused by Neonectria ditissima, is a major disease of apple (Malus x domestica) with limited control options, making host resistance a key management strategy. Although quantitative disease resistance (QDR) has been identified, the underlying molecular basis remains poorly understood. We investigated candidate genes associated with resistance using transcriptomic profiling of a bi-parental population segregating for six QTLs linked to canker resistance. RNA sequencing combined with machine learning enabled the identification of key biomarkers predictive of disease resistance. Integration of expression and QTL data highlighted genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, immune receptors (NLRs, RLKs, WAKs), and epigenetic regulators, implicating their roles in host defense. Expression patterns were further resolved into cis- and trans-regulatory effects, providing insight into allele-dependent regulation. Independent validation in a separate dataset confirmed the robustness of key expression patterns. These findings advance understanding of the genetic architecture underlying QDR in apple and provide a basis for marker development to support breeding of cultivars with durable resistance to European canker.
Keywords
European canker; Apple; Neonectria ditissima; Transcriptome; Malus x domestica; Machine learning
Published in
Scientific Reports
2026, volume: 16, number: 1, article number: 3419
Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Genetics and Breeding in Agricultural Sciences
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (Methods development to be 10203)
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-33478-6
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/146053