Abstract The Apple Germplasm Bank (AGB) of Santa Catarina Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company - Epagri, AGB-Epagri, is the largest of the genus Malus in Brazil. Twenty-eight main accessions of this bank were virus screened through DAS-ELISA, RT-PCR and IC-RT-PCR during two consecutive reproductive cycles, and each accession showed latent mixed infection by at least two species, among ASGV, ASPV and ACLSV. The combined use of diagnostic methods helped overcome inconsistencies commonly found in apple virus detection and was shown essential for the AGB-Epagri can be safely used as a source of genetic variability and for the exchange of virus-free propagative material.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to identify self-incompatibility (S) alleles of advanced breeding selections of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). The S-alleles of 42 apple genotypes were analyzed by markers using allele-specific PCR amplification and amplicons digested with restriction endonucleases. Among the screened genotypes were cultivars, advanced selections, and accessions of the Apple Germplasm Bank of Epagri (Caçador, Santa Catarina, Brazil). Two S-alleles were identified in 36 genotypes, and only one S-allele was determined in the other six genotypes. In all, eleven S-alleles were identified among all the genotypes evaluated. The S3 and S5 alleles were most frequent (30.2% and 19.8%, respectively). The identification of S-alleles using molecular markers in important apple tree genotypes is useful for determination of compatible parents for breeding programs.

A garantia de boas produções em pomares comerciais de macieira depende de uma polinização eficiente, que também está relacionada com a compatibilidade de pólen-estigma, com a coincidência de época de floração e com a capacidade de produção e de germinação de pólen. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficiência de diferentes genótipos de macieira como polinizadores da cv. Daiane nas condições climáticas do meio-oeste de Santa Catarina. Plantas de 'Daiane' foram polinizadas a campo com pólen de diversas seleções e cultivares de macieira, com subsequente proteção dos cachos com sacos de papel, por 72 h. Consideraram-se a coincidência de época de floração, a adaptação climática, a taxa de germinação, a reação à mancha foliar de Glomerella, além da frutificação efetiva e do número de sementes por fruto induzido pelas polinizadoras avaliadas. Os tratamentos mais eficientes na polinização da cultivar de macieira Daiane foram as seleções 140/76 e 140/228, respectivamente, que são indicadas para utilização conjugada, visando à maior eficiência na polinização.

Ensuring good production in apple orchards depends on efficient pollination, which is directly related to pollen-stigma compatibility, blooming time coincidence, high production and good germination capacity of pollen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of different apple genotypes as pollinizers of 'Daiane' cv. at the climate of Middle-west of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Apple trees of 'Daiane' cv. were pollinated in the field with several apple selections from the Apple Breeding Program of Epagri - Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária e Extensão Rural de Santa Catarina. Right after pollination, the flowering clusters were protected with paper bags for 72h hours. It were considered the coincidence on blooming time, the climatic adaptation of the trees, the percentage of germination, the reaction to Gala Leaf Spot disease, as well as the fruit set and the number of seed per fruit induced by the pollinizers of this study. It was observed that the best pollinizers for 'Daiane' apple trees were the selections 140/76 and 140/228, respectively. Both selections are indicated to be used combined as pollinizers of 'Daiane'.