Abstract Among the cultivation problems of apple production in Brazil, Apple Leaf Spot (ALS) disease represents one of the main breeding challenges. This study aims at analyzing the genetic diversity among 152 apple scion accessions available at the Apple Gene Bank of EPAGRI, located in Caçador, Santa Catarina/Brazil. Eleven genomic SSR loci were analyzed to assess genetic diversity of ALS resistant and susceptible accessions. Results revealed high genetic diversity of the studied accessions, being 120 exclusive alleles (67 unique) from scion accessions resistant to ALS, and a mean PIC of 0.823. The locus Probability of Identity (I) ranged from 0.017 to 0.089. The combined I was 4.11 x 10-16, and the Power of Exclusion was 99.99999259%. In addition, the DNA fingerprint patterns will contribute as additional descriptors to select parental for crosses and early identification of apple accessions for breeding purposes, and also for cultivar protection.

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides e C. acutatum são os agentes etiológicos da Mancha da Gala (MG), na cultura da macieira, no Brasil. Programas de melhoramento visando o desenvolvimento de resistência genética à doença necessitam do conhecimento pleno das características das espécies do patógeno envolvidas. Uma maneira de separar estas espécies é através do estudo da sensibilidade de isolados ao fungicida benomyl. Através do teste de sensibilidade de 39 isolados de C. acutatum e C. gloeosporioides relacionados à MG, em que foram avaliados a taxa de crescimento micelial e o índice de redução deste crescimento, observou-se que dentre os isolados de C. gloeosporioides há um grupo resistente ao fungicida e que difere de todos os isolados desta espécie relatados neste patossistema. Este grupo mostrou-se resistente às concentrações de 5 e 100 µg.mL-1 com índice de redução (IR) variando entre 0% e 8%, e entre 15 e 30%, respectivamente, enquanto o isolado padrão (CG197) apresentou IR de 100% em ambas as concentrações testadas. Os isolados de C. acutatum foram todos resistentes ao fungicida. Devido à resistência de alguns isolados de C. gloeosporioides, a separação de espécies de Colletotrichum associadas à macieira, baseada apenas na resistência ou suscetibilidade ao fungicida benomyl, não deve ser utilizada isoladamente.

In Brazil, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. acutatum are responsible for the occurrence of Gala leaf spot or Glomerella Leaf Spot (GLS) on apple. Breeding programs aiming to develop genetic resistance to disease need a complete understanding of the characteristics of involved species. A study of the sensibility of the isolates to benomyl is a way to separate those species. A sensitivity test of 39 isolates of C. acutatum and C. gloeosporioides involved with GLS, evaluated by growth rate and reduction rate of mycelium, revealed a group of C. gloeosporioides isolates that are resistant to the fungicide. This group showed resistance to concentrations of 5 and 100 µg.mL-1 with reduction rate varying between 0% and 8%, and between 15 and 30%, respectively. While the standard C. gloeosporioides isolate (CG197) showed a reduction rate of 100% at both tested concentrations, all isolates of C. acutatum were resistant to the fungicide. Due to the resistance of some isolates of C. gloeosporioides, the separation of Colletotrichum species on apple should not be based only on resistance or susceptibility to benomyl.