___________________________ [601650]

___________________________
Corresponding author: Adriana F. S estras ,Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural
Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj -Napoca, 3 -5 Manastur St., 400372 Cluj -Napoca, Romania,
Phone 04+264 -596384 int.176, Fax 04+264 -593792, e -mail [anonimizat] .

UDC 575.630
DOI: 10.2298/GENSR1 503993D
Original scientific paper

INVESTIGATION OF WILD SPECIES POTENTIAL TO INCREASE GENETIC
DIVERSITY USEFUL FOR APPLE BREEDING

Catalina DAN1, Adriana F. SESTRAS1,*, Calin BOZDOG1,2, Radu E. SESTRAS1

1University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj -Napoca, Romania
2Fruit Research Station, Cluj -Napoca, Romania

Dan C., A. F. Sestras , C. Bozdog , R.E. Sestras (2015): Investigation of wild species
potential to increase genetic diversity useful for apple breeding – Genetika, Vol 4 7, No. 3,
993-1011 .
The potential of testing new apple cultivars and the possibility to induce valuable
traits is directly dependent on the availability of sufficient genetic diversity, while apple
breeding has narrowed the genetic ground of commercial cultivars. Wild species were
studied in regard to their influence upon progenies and their capacity to enlarge apple
genetic diversity. The interspecific seedlings were framed i n five biparental mating
(paired crosses), in which Malus species were crossed with different cultivars, obtaining
half-sib families. The number of F 1 progenies per combination varied from 31 ( Cluj 218/2
× M. floribunda ) up to 142 ( Reinette Baumann × M. fl oribunda ), with a total of 1650
hybrids F 1. The influences upon vigour and juvenile period and possible correlation
among fruit size and taste were analyzed. Juvenile period varied from 6.00 ( M. zumi ×
Jonathan) to 9.31 years (Cluj 218/2 × M. floribunda ). Data based on correlation
coefficient illustrated that the fructification year was not influenced by the vigour of trees.
The highest value of correlation for fruit’s size and taste was obtained among M.
coronaria hybrids. This result might suggest that on ce the fruit are larger, there is a high
chance the taste is also more appreciative and fruit quality for mouth feels increase.
Depending on the parental formula, additive effects may be inferior compared to genetic
effects of dominance and epistasis. Alth ough M. zumi and M. floribunda achieved the
same genetic gain (0.31), M. zumi had a higher expected selection response for fruit size.
The difficulty of obtaining seedlings with tasty and large fruit when wild Malus species
are used as genitors is resultin g from the values of expected selection response data, but
in the same time results confirm that wild Malus species are suitable resources for genetic
variability, both for dessert and ornamental apple cultivars.
Key words: crabapple, expected selection r esponse, genetic gain, genotype,
heritability, hybridization, Malus wild species, seedlings

994 GENETIKA, Vol. 47, No. 3, 993-1011, 2015
INTRODUCTION
Most breeding programs use commercial cultivars as genitors, due to assured desirable
complementary traits which they might transmit to offspring. Amon g progenies, individual
phenotypes within full -sib families are selected and tested for release as new and improved
cultivars, method also named recurrent mass selection ( JANICK et al. , 1996; KUMAR , 2010). This
can be complemented by general or specific co mbining ability selection, in order to increase the
frequency of desirable alleles in the breeding population and thus, increase the probability to select
a superior cultivar, essential for maximising on a long term the breeding gain ( KING et al., 2001;
LIEBHARD et al., 2003; VOLK et al. , 2015).
As only few cultivars are used as genitors, this caused a reduction of the effective
population size (and therefore assuring fewer genes and reducing genetic diversity), while
increasing the levels of inbreeding dep ression ( NOITON and ALSPACH , 1996). Some of the
inbreeding depression symptoms in apple are lacking vigour, decreasing genetic variance among
families, and by this decreasing the genetic gain and increasing the uniformity within a cross,
lengthening the ju venile period.
Even though Malus genus is very diverse, having more than 35 species (IGNATOV and
BODISHEVSKAYA , 2011), or even up to 55 species ( HARRIS et al. , 2002), domestic cultivars have a
narrow genetic base. This is due to the common origin of most o f the cultivars ( M. sierversii , M.
sylvestris , M. pumila ), the selection process among natural mutations and the heterozygote feature
maintained through vegetative multiplication (cloning) . This represents a constant vulnerability to
environmental changes and diseases (JANICK et al. , 1996). Breeding directions for apple largely
focused on inducing resistance to main diseases ( Venturia inequalis , Powdery mildew etc.) and this
contribute to a less wide genetic base for domestic cultivars ( KUMAR et al., 2014; SESTRAS et al. ,
2010). By not studying more the wild apple species and referring mostly to the consecrated cultivars
known for disease resistance and desirable traits for dessert apple, the genetic resources are narrow and
the consequences may be destructi ve. Apple crop is vulnerable mainly because of the low number
of cultivars that are in production, diseases, pests and climate stress, the longevity of orchards and
the limited number of breeding programs ( KHAN , 2012). An understanding of the diversity hel d in
gene banks worldwide will allow a strategic determination of key ex situ populations that must be
collected before important sources of wild diversity are lost ( VOLK , 2014).
Under domestication, perennial plants are often clonally propagated, which, i n addition to
long juvenile phases, also decreases the number of sexual cycles separating domesticated
individuals from their wild progenitors ( MCKEY et al. , 2010; MILLER and GROSS , 2011) and
therefore have slow rates of evolution ( ZEDER et al. , 2006). Rec ent research ( CORNILLE , 2014) has
revealed a major role of hybridization of cultivated apple and has highlighted apple as an ideal
model for unravelling adaptive diversification processes in perennial fruit crops. On the other
hand, artificial selection ca used cultivated populations to diverge morphologically and genetically
from their wild progenitors ( PICKERSGILL , 2007, 2009) and drive to a less broad variability within
the genus.
Interspecific hybridisations arise several difficulties, such as artificia l cross -pollination labour
for obtaining seedlings, a large number of segregating descendants for assuring genes’ recombination
and chances for an efficient selection, which implies vast land plots and long time for field trials
(IGNATOV and BODISHEVSKAYA , 2011), as well as expansive costs. Especially because the juvenile
period is long in apple hybrids on own roots, varying from 3 to 8, or even more years ( IGNATOV and

A. SESTRAS et.al:WILD APPLE SPECIES 995
BODISHEVSKAYA , 2011), the breeding strategy is more difficult and deserve a lot of effort to evaluate
segregating progenies regarding seedlings ensemble valuation.
If traits like vigour, architectural ideotypes of trees, response to stress factors, diseases attack
etc. can be analysed during the juvenile period, other important features like fruit size and shape, fruit
taste, acidity and sugars, firmness, productivity etc. are to be verified only after the beginning of
fructification period, thus it is important to start within a short time ( ACQUAAH , 2009; JEMRIĆ , 2013).
Improved fruit quality is still a major objective (BAI, 2015; MOSTAFAVI , 2013), pursued in all apple
breeding programs, but seedlings should be screened first for basic agronomic traits: disease and pest
behaviour, abiotic stress resistance, ideotype, yield, and only the most promising lines to proceed for
further testing ( SESTRAS et al., 2011; DAN et al. , 2015). Fruit quality is a complex trait that include
besides the size, shape, color, texture, taste etc. also storage and shelf -life (JENK S and BEBELI , 2011) .
It is known that juvenile period is influenced by many factors, including hereditary heritage
(genotype), environmental conditions and cultural technologies, genotypes × ecotypes interactions and
others. Even though it can be shortene d by grafting seedlings on faster flowering rootstocks,
adventitious rooting ( XIAO , 2014) and contemporary molecular techniques ( ATHANASIADIS et al .,
2013; FOSTER , 2015; WARLOP , 2010; YAMAGISHI , 2013 ), for apple breeding and increasing variability
within t he genus, wild species are an important resource and their influence upon descendants needs to
be better understood.
Genetic correlations provide data about the interactions between the environment and
genotype, indicating in some cases the necessity of se lection. Estimation of genetic parameters like
heritability and genetic correlations are essential for making efficient decisions in choosing among
breeding schemes ( ORAGUZIE , 2001). Narrow sense heritability determines the response to selection
based on i ndividual phenotype or family mean for specific traits.
Being easily crossable with domestic apple, wild species are valuable donors for favourable
traits, both for commercial and ornamental apple cultivars ( BECKERMAN et al ., 2009; DAN, 2010;
IGNATOV and BODISHEVSKAYA , 2011). By introducing less utilised wild apple species in breeding
programs, a vast diversity can be exploited and the enlargement of the genetic pool can be assured.
The aim of the study was to investigate some aspects of breeding for impor tant traits in
apple, having several Malus species used as maternal or paternal genitor for F 1 hybrids, in order to
evaluate their potential in regard with the genetic variability, heterozygosity, genetic gain and
possible correlations among traits.

MATER IALS AND METHODS
Biological material
Several traits were analysed on 1650 F 1 interspecific hybrids planted on their own roots at
the Fruit Research Station, Cluj -Napoca, Romania. The progenies were obtained through crosses
among Malus species and apple cul tivars (in parental generation, or P 0).
The following wild species of Malus were used as male and/or female testers: M.
coronaria , a North American specie, also known as sweet crab -apple or garland crab; M. zumi ,
also known as O -zumi or Zumi crabapple, nat ive to Europe and Asia; M. floribunda, also known
as Japanese flowering crab -apple, originated from Japan and prevalent from Eastern Asia, being
very well known as the monogenic source of resistance to apple scab ( Vf gene); M.
niedzwetzkyana , found in the forests of Central Asia, considered rare apple trees; M. prunifolia ,
also known as pear -leaf, plum -leaf crab -apple or Chinese apple, ornamental tree native to China.

996 GENETIKA, Vol. 47, No. 3, 993-1011, 2015
The following cultivars were used as male and/or female testers: Cluj 218/2, Frumos de
Voinești, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Reinette Baumann and Roșu de Cluj.

Hybridization scheme
The F 1 apple seedlings were framed in five biparental mating of hybridization (or paired
crosses, or cyclic models) adapted from North Carolina Design ( ACQUAAH , 2009), in which the
wild species, used as maternal or paternal genitor, was crossed with minimum two ( M. coronaria
as maternal tester) and maximum four ( M. niedzwetzkyana as paternal tester) cultivars (Table 1).
The number of progenies per combination ranged from 31 ( Cluj 218/2 × M. floribunda ) up to 142
(Reinette Baumann × M. floribunda ), having a total of 1650 interspecific hybrids.

Table 1. Hybrid combinations and the number of F 1 hybrids

♀/♂
Golden
Delicious Jonathan Reinette
Baumann M. floribunda M. niedzwetzkyana M. prunifolia
Malus zumi 139 122 76
Malus coronaria 128 81
Cluj 218/2 31 123
Frumos de Voine ști 110 135
Reinette Baumann 142 82 79
Roșu de Cluj 137 125
Golden Delicious 140

Analysed traits
Hybrids’ vigour was performed by evaluation marks, using the following grading scale
for tree vigour (UPOV for Ornamental Apple, 2003): ‘3’ = weak; ‘5’ = medium; ‘7’ = strong.
The year of first fructificat ion was recorded when each hybrid (offspring seedling)
produced fruit, used further for taste evaluation. Hybrids which did not bloom nor fructify until the
tenth year after sowing were not taken into consideration for the current study.
Fruit size was ass essed by compiling UPOV for Ornamental Apple (2003) and for Fruit
Varieties (2005) scale (DAN et al., 2010), using an interval of 1 -9 marks, with four notes (grades):
‘1’= very small (by comparison with M. floribunda , M. zumi , M. prunifolia species, used a s
genitors); ‘3’ = small ( M. coronaria ); ‘5’ = medium ( M. niedzwetzkyana ); ‘7’ = large (Ro șu de
Cluj cv.); ‘9’ = very large (all cultivars used as genitors, except Ro șu de Cluj).
A similar note system was used in order to evaluate fruit quality, but referring only to the
taste (mouth feel) of fruit, analysed in a rapidly sensory evaluation test . The taste was assessed
using a continuous scale from ‘1’ to ‘9’, where ‘1’ represents extremely disliked and ‘9’ represents
extremely agreeable taste. On this scale, it could be considered that all Malus wild species were
classified within the inferior c lasses (‘1’ or ‘2’ score), while the cultivars used as genitors, situated
on the other extreme end (‘7’, ‘8’ or ‘9’ score), having a pleasant taste, as expected.

Genetic parameters
The genetic analysis of the families involved the decomposition of varianc es for each of
the F 1 hybrid siblings (half -sib), which were grouped thought siblings having a common hereditary
basis, derived from the common genitor (mother or father) in P 0.

A. SESTRAS et.al:WILD APPLE SPECIES 997
Calculation of the broad sense heritability (H2) and of the narrow sense heri tability (h2)
was based on the variances of inter -families and intra -families of siblings, the proportion of
common genes, respectively the degree of relatedness, considering equal to 25%, or 1/4
(FALCONER and MACKAY , 1996; GATTI et al. , 2005; SOUZA et al. , 2000). Broad sense heritability
and narrow -sense heritability were computed by the classical models:
H2=σG2/σP2,
h2=σGa2/σP2,
where σ G2 is the genotypic variance; σ P2 is the phenotypic variance; σ Ga2 is the additive
variance ( HOLLAND et al. , 2003; PIEPHO and MÖHRING , 2007).
The Coefficient of Genetic Variability (CGV%), Genetic Gain (GG) and expected
selection Response (R) were computed as the standard formulas:
x CGVG/ %
,
where σ = square root of the total variance among families; σ G = square root of the
genotypic variance among families;
x = mean of marks/trait.
P hk GG 2
, or
P hiG 2 ,
where k or i = selection intensity ( considered 2.06 for the top 5%) ; σP = square root of the
phenotypic v ariance among families or populations represented by F 1 hybrids from each
combination of half -siblings ( GATTI et al. , 2005).
Heritability in narrow sense was used to predict the response to selection ( FALCONER and
MACKAY , 1996) and to the expected selectio n response (R). The expected selection response (R)
was estimated considering the half -sib family selection method described by NYQUIST (1991):
2 2h iRP
,
where
2
P = phenotypic variance among families or populations repres ented by F 1
hybrids from each combination of half -siblings.
Statistical analysis
The statistical analysis of experiment data was carried out by applying Duncan test, for
more reliable data due to multiple pairwise comparisons. The data were summarized as m eans per
trait and standard deviations for each hybrid combinations, respectively family of seedlings and
cyclic hybridization. Excel (Microsoft Office) formulas were used for calculation.

RESULTS
The vigour for F 1 apple hybrids was under polygenic contro l, illustrated both by CV%
and continuous range of expression of seedlings’ growth. The range of variation was related to the
expression of the character upon parents, as the progeny mean was quite related to the parental
mean. The mean values ranged from 4.78 to 5.60 m between the cyclic hybrid combinations, and
between 4.63 to 6.05 m among all hybrids (Table 2). It can be emphasised that Reinette Baumann
induced a smaller vigour when used as paternal genitor, in combination both with M. zumi (4.93)
and M. coronaria (4.63), having statistical assured differences. Also, when Malus species were
used as paternal form and the cultivars as maternal genitor, the data showed significant
differences, and mean values for vigour were higher; even so, Frumos de Voine ști induced smaller
vigour, both with M. floribunda and M. niedzwetzkyana . It can be concluded that a small vigour
was obtained when cultivars Reinette Baumann as paternal genitor and Frumos de Voine ști as
mother genitor, were used, in combination with wild species M. coronaria, M. zumi and M.

998 GENETIKA, Vol. 47, No. 3, 993-1011, 2015
floribunda , respectively. Exceptions may appear, caused probably by triploidy of some genitors
(e.g. Reinette Baumann), which are vigorous, but when used as genitor (paternal in the current
study), could decrease the v igour of the descendants; this can be explained on the basis of their
aneuploidy and dominance or epistasis genetic effects ( SESTRAS et al. , 2009).

Table 2. Vigour of trees (as mean of marks) and first year of fructification among F 1 interspecific
hybrid combinations
Hybrid combination
(with tester as ♀ or ♂) Trees vigour –
Mean*, error and CV% First fruiting year –
Mean*, error and CV%
x
**
xs CV%
x **
xs CV%
M. zumi Gold en Delicious 5.60 abcd 0.43 17.2 7.60abc 0.24 7.2
Jonathan 5.13bcde 0.14 11.1 6.00c 0.41 27.2
Reinette Baumann 4.93cde 0.07 4.5 6.60bc 0.58 27.8
M. zumi (as mother genitor) 5.22B 0.11 10.9 6.73C 0.30 20.8
M. coronaria Jonathan 4.93cde 0.66 32.9 7.33bc 0.33 11.1
Reinette Baumann 4.63e 0.77 33.5 7.00bc 0.41 11.7
M. coronaria (as mother genitor) 4.78C 0.48 33.2 7.17B 0.25 11.4
Cluj 218/2
M. floribunda 5.40 abcde 0.26 12.6 9.31a 0.37 10.4
Frumos de Voine ști 4.73de 0.23 15.3 7.80ab 0.39 15.8
Reinette Baumann 5.66abc 0.21 14.7 7.60abc 0.16 8.6
M. floribunda (as father genitor) 5.26B 0.15 14.2 8.24A 0.20 11.6
Cluj 218/2
M. niedzwetzkyana 6.05a 0.10 6.4 7.31bc 0.25 13.9
Frumos de Voine ști 5.38abcde 0.15 9.9 7.25bc 0.13 6.2
Reinette Baumann 5.53abcd 0.19 12.8 7.01bc 0.21 11.1
Roșu de Cluj 5.44 abcde 0.20 13.5 7.00bc 0.10 5.6
M. niedzwetzkyana (as father genitor) 5.60A 0.09 10.6 7.14B 0.10 9.2
Golden Delicious
M. prunifolia 5.08 bcde 0.20 13.8 7.00bc 0.28 13.6
Reinette Baumann 5.92ab 0.16 8.2 6.78bc 0.49 21.9
Roșu de Cluj 5.39 abcde 0.18 13.5 6.81bc 0.29 17.1
M. prunifolia (as father genitor) 0.12 11.8 6.86B 0.19 17.5
* Hybrids’ vigour was performed by evaluation marks, using the following g rading scale for tree vigour (UPOV for
Ornamental Apple, 2003): ‘3’ = weak; ‘5’ = medium; ‘7’ = strong.
**In columns, means followed by the same letter are not different at P ≤ 0.05 (Duncan’s test), using small letters
for hybrid combinations (SD5% vigour of trees: 0.90 -1.11; SD5% first year of fructification: 1.73 -1.81) and capital letters
for means when using specie as tester (SD5% vigour of trees: 0.27 -0.30; SD5% first year of fructification: 0.98 -1.09).

Juvenile period varied from 6.00 years ( M. zumi × Jonathan) to 9.31 years (Cluj 218/2 ×
M. floribunda ) (Table 2). The means for the year of first fructification among hybrid combinations
ranged from 6.73 to 8.24. The variability of the trait was high, as seen by the values of CV%,
which reflects the ext ent of the variability of the juvenile period in relation to the mean obtained
among hybrids. The earliest combination that had fruit was M. zumi × Jonathan (fruiting after 6
years), M. zumi being the specie that induced the shortest period among the studi ed populations
when used as maternal genitor (6.73), with statistical assured differences, even though the
variability coefficient for this hybrid combination was high (20.8%). After statistical data
processing, it was noted that the variability of the juv enile period was lower (between 9.2% and
11.6%) when Malus species were used as a father genitor, except of M. prunifolia .

A. SESTRAS et.al:WILD APPLE SPECIES 999
The interpretation of data regarding the size of F 1 hybrids’ fruit (Table 3) emphasized that
wild species strongly influenced this t rait among hybrid seedlings. The means for all combinations
were not distinctive, having no statistical assured differences, ranking fruit in ‘very small’ -‘small’
categories. The mean size of apples for the analysed hybrid combinations ranged from 2.7, whe n
M. prunifolia and M. floribunda were paternal genitors, to 2.93 among M. niedzwetzkyana hybrids.
Even though the variability coefficient was high among all combinations, the interval for all fruit
size was between 2.3 (Golden Delicious × M. prunifolia ) to 3.2 ( M. zumi × Reinette Baumann and
Frumos de Voine ști × M. floribunda ). M. niedzwetzkyana and possibly M. coronaria , both with
larger fruit than most wild species, passed the fruit size to their descendants. As a more adequate
genitor in this regard, even though the species pass on the rustic character, t he statistical analysis
emphasis M. niedzwetzkyana , but without statistically assured data. This illustrates once again that
fruit size is a typical quantitative trait, with polygenic transmission.

Table 3. Fruit size and taste (as mean of marks) in F 1 interspecific hybrid combinations
Hybrid combination
(with tester as ♀ or ♂) Fruit size –
Mean*, error and CV% Fruit taste –
Mean*, error and CV%
x
**
xs CV
%
x**
xs CV
%
M. zumi Golden Delicious 3.00a 0.63 47.1 1.90d 0.19 22.0
Jonathan 2.38bc 0.24 40.3 1.91d 0.09 19.7
Reinette Baumann 3.20a 0.36 35.5 2.30d 0.33 44.9
M. zumi (as mother genitor) 2.86A 0.20 41.0 2.04C 0.12 28.9
M. coronaria Jonathan 3.00a 0.52 42.2 2.42cd 0.49 49.7
Reinette Baumann 2.75abc 0.25 18.2 2.63bcd 0.24 18.2
M. coronaria (as mother genitor) 2.88A 0.31 30.2 2.52BC 0.30 34.0
Cluj 218/2
M. floribunda 2.50bc 0.33 34.6 3.71abcd 0.64 45.9
Frumos de Voine ști 3.20a 0.36 35.5 3.60abcd 0.62 54.3
Reinette Baumann 2.40bc 0.21 35.4 2.53bcd 0.33 51.7
M. floribunda (as father genitor) 2.70A 0.17 35.2 3.28B 0.29 50.6
Cluj 218/2
M. niedzwetzkyana 3.10a 0.09 11.8 5.13a 0.49 38.3
Frumos de Voine ști 3.00a 0.25 28.4 4.33abc 0.56 44.4
Reinette Baumann 2.50bc 0.25 37.6 3.39abcd 0.46 50.8
Roșu de Cluj 3.10a 0.20 23.7 4.39abc 0.65 55.4
M. niedzwetzkyana (as father genitor) 2.93A 0.10 25.4 4.31A 0.28 47.2
Golden Delicious
M. prunifolia 2.30c 0.28 42.0 4.42ab 0.57 44.7
Reinette Baumann 2.80ab 0.20 21.4 4.78a 0.86 54.2
Roșu de Cluj 3.00a 0.32 42.2 5.06a 0.54 43.0
M. prunifolia (as father genitor) 2.70A 0.17 35.2 4.75A 0.36 47.3
* Fruit size was assessed by compiled UPOV for Ornamental Apple (2003) and for Frui t Varieties (2005) scale:
‘1’= very small; ‘3’ = small; ‘5’ = medium; ‘7’ = large; ‘9’ = very large. The taste was assessed using a continuous scale
from ‘1’ to ‘9’, where ‘1’ represents extremely disliked and ‘9’ represent extremely liked.
**In the colum ns, means followed by the same letter are not different at P ≤ 0.05 (Duncan’s test), using small
letters for hybrid combinations (SD5% fruit size: 0.48 -0.57; SD5% fruit taste: 1.92 -2.31) and capital letters for means when
using specie as tester (SD5% fruit size: 0.27 -0.30; SD5% fruit taste: 0.98 -1.09).

Fruit taste registered an extent variability among the interspecific hybrids (Table 3), with
the extreme values of 1.9 ( M. zumi × Golden Delicious) and 5.13 (Cluj 218/2 × M.
niedzwetzkyana ), with statistical assured differences between all cyclic combinations, except of M.
niedzwetzkyana and M. prunifolia, which also had the better taste of fruit, with means of 4.31 and

1000 GENETIKA, Vol. 47, No. 3, 993-1011, 2015
4.75, respectively. Small grades, reflecting an unpleasant mouth feel, were noted for M. zumi and
M. coronaria (maternal genitors), followed by the descendants of M. floribunda (paternal genitor).
The variability of fruit taste was vast, as CV% ranged from 18.2% to 55.4%, meaning a medium to
high interpretation, sustaining the complexity of the trait and its genetic inheritance.
The correlation coefficient between the analysed traits, interspecific hybrids vigour and
year of first fructification and fruit size and taste respectively, illustrated that Malus species used
as maternal genitor come c loser in a linear dependence, for p5%. In this regard, M. zumi had a
positive correlation between vigour and juvenile period, while M. coronaria had the strongest
positive correlation for fruit size and taste.
Correlation coefficients for F1 interspecific hybrids vigour and the first year of
fructification had small values, not being statistical assured (Fig. 1). The data illustrated that the
fructification year was not influenced by the vigour of trees. Only M. zumi seedlings had the
correlation coefficien t close to statistical limit for p5% (‘r’ = +0.162 ).

Fig. 1. Genotypic correlation (‘r’) between the vigour of trees and the first year of fructification of
F1 interspecific hybrids, belonging to Malus species used as maternal and paternal
genitors

A. SESTRAS et.al:WILD APPLE SPECIES 1001
Fig. 2. Genotypic correlation (‘r’) between fruit size and fruit taste of F 1 interspecific hybrids,
belonging to Malus species used as maternal and paternal genitors

For the analysed F1 interspecific hybrids , fruit size and taste were not correlated (Fi g. 2).
In spite of that, calculated values for ‘r’ were close to the theoretical ones at p5% , especially for
seedlings of M. coronaria . Data point out that regarding the origin of interspecific hybrids, once
the size of fruit is improved, there is a high c hance the taste is also more appreciative and the fruit
quality for mouth feels becomes more valuable. This assumption is more likely to be possible with
M. coronaria as genitor among the studied Malus species, which is in fact surprisingly as the
hybrids from its combinations had fruit close the specific traits of the specie: flattened to spherical
shape, 2.5 -3 cm in diameter, crowned with calyx lobes and remnant of filaments, yellow green at
maturity, fragrant and acid taste.
Heritability was estimated to determine the interactions between genotype and phenotype,
as well as the stability of different traits expression across the environment. Also, genetic gain was
pursued to emphasise possible improvements to future generations. Broad sense heritability
denoted the fact that the vigour had a strong genetic determinism (Table 4). Environmental factors
had a more significant contribution for tree height when M. floribunda , M. prunifolia and M.
niedzwetzkyana are used as genitors, while narrow sense heritabili ty revealed that non additive
effects (dominance and epitasis) contributed mostly to the inheritance of tree vigour. In the case of
M. coronaria data were not statistically significant. The highest share of polygenic additive
contribution to transmitting v igour occurred for M. floribunda (0.264). Genetic gain and expected
selection response for tree vigour had higher values (0.43 and 0.37, respectively) for the
descendants of M. floribunda .

1002 GENETIKA, Vol. 47, No. 3, 993-1011, 2015
Table 4. Heritability and genetic parameters * for the vigour of F1 interspecific hybrids

Genitor as parental tester Mean of
marks Heritability CGV% GG R Specie Form H2 h2
M. zumi ♀ 5.22 0.700 0.171 0.9 0.21 0.12
M. coronaria ♀ 4.78 0.082 (-0.696) (-10.1) (-2.17) (-3.27)
M. floribunda ♂ 5.26 0.819 0.246 3.9 0.43 0.37
M. niedzwetzkyana ♂ 5.60 0.797 0.170 1.4 0.23 0.15
M. prunifolia ♂ 5.46 0.803 0.202 2.1 0.30 0.22
*H2 – broad se nse heritability; h2 – narrow sense heritability; CGV% – coefficient of genetic variability; GG – genetic gain;
R – expected selection response

The length of juvenile period has a very complex genetic determinism, data confirmed
also by the values of heri tability coefficients calculated for the studied interspecific apple hybrids.
The interpretation of the calculated parameters (Table 5) suggested that phenotypic variance plays
a very significant role, although for M. floribunda and M. zumi broad sense her itability (0.898 and
0.663, respectively) showed genetic control of the trait.

Table 5. Heritability and genetic parameters * for the first year of fructification of F 1 interspecific
hybrids

Genitor as parental tester Mean of
marks Heritability CGV% GG R Specie Form H2 h2
M. zumi ♀ 6.73 0.663 0.140 3.9 0.48 0.78
M. coronaria ♀ 7.17 0.286 (-0.357) (-1.2) (-0.58) (-0.46)
M. floribunda ♂ 8.24 0.898 0.307 7.8 0.71 0.80
M. niedzwetzkyana ♂ 7.14 0.418 (-0.047) (-0.1) (-0.07) (-0.05)
M. prunifolia ♂ 6.86 0.105 (-0.263) (-1.5) (-0.63) (-0.73)
*H2 – broad sense heritability; h2 – narrow sense heritability; CGV% – coefficient of genetic variability; GG – genetic gain;
R – expected selection response

Genetic gain for fruit size proved that M. zumi and M. floribunda gave the most chances
of obtaining hybrid offspring that have a more desirable fruit size (Table 6). Although M. zumi and
M. floribunda achieved the same genetic gain (0.31), M. zumi provided a higher expected selection
response (0.35), differentiating among the wild species us ed as genitors as the most promising one
for a better fruit size.
The difficulty of obtaining seedlings with tasty fruit when wild Malus species are used as
genitors is resulting from the values of expected selection response (Table 7), with no statistica l
data or with values that ranged between 0.04 and 0.74.

A. SESTRAS et.al:WILD APPLE SPECIES 1003
Table 6. Heritability and genetic parameters * for size of fruit of F 1 interspecific hybrids

Genitor as parental tester Mean of
marks Heritability CGV% GG R Specie Form H2 h2
M. zumi ♀ 2.86 0.658 0.135 4.1 0.31 0.35
M. coronaria ♀ 2.88 0.121 (-0.632) (-6.8) (-1.29) (-1.28)
M. floribunda ♂ 2.70 0.700 0.154 4.3 0.31 0.30
M. niedzwetzkyana ♂ 2.93 0.681 0.104 1.5 0.16 0.12
M. prunifolia ♂ 2.70 0.611 0.074 1.9 0.16 0.17
*H2 – broad sen se heritability; h2 – narrow sense heritability; CGV% – coefficient of genetic variability; GG – genetic gain;
R – expected selection response

Table 7. Heritability and genetic parameters * for the taste of fruit of F 1 interspecific hybrids

Genitor as p arental tester Mean of
marks Heritability CGV% GG R Specie Form H2 h2
M. zumi ♀ 2.04 0.544 0.038 0.5 0.05 0.04
M. coronaria ♀ 2.52 0.095 (-0.674) (-7.3) (-1.31) (-1.24)
M. floribunda ♂ 3.28 0.666 0.128 7.6 0.44 0.73
M. niedzwetzkyana ♂ 4.31 0.645 0.083 5.6 0.36 0.74
M. prunifolia ♂ 4.75 0.225 (-0.183) (-6.1) (-0.82) (-1.78)
*H2 – broad sense heritability; h2 – narrow sense heritability; CGV% – coefficient of genetic variability; GG – genetic gain;
R – expected selection response

DISCUSSION
Most breeding programs use only a narrow range of the genetic pool ( NOITON and
ALSPACH , 1996) mostly based on crosses with well known cultivars like Golden Delicious, Red
Delicious, Jonathan or Mc -Intosh ( DUREL et al. , 1998). The main goals of conventional breeding
programs are to increase fruit yield, upscale fruit quality and to achieve resi stance to the main
pests and diseases ( VOLK , 2014). Contemporary understanding of improving fruit quality
emphasise the potential of breeding programs and even more, the necessity of a vast genetic base.
The potential contribution of wild relatives for cro p improvement has long been recognized and
forms an important component in breeding and conservation programs ( DARWIN , 2009; KOVACH
and MCCOUCH , 2008; PICKERSGILL , 2009). Ideally, a population is to be improved without its
genetic variability being reduced , so that additional selection and progress can occur among future
generations, where as the best individuals from each family are selected in a manner that can
preserve the diversity within the population. In reality though, genetic erosion is a major con cern.
Since the beginning of modern and intensive agriculture, breeding aimed to improve
productivity and quality of yields, and now days the researchers also take into consideration the
importance of genotypes whose cultivation could reduce the environmen tal impact ( DIAMANTI and
MEZETTI , 2011), towards new technologies for improved nutritional and nutraceutical values of
fruit and enlargement of the genetic base ( KUMAR , 2012). There is an essential need also for better
adapted cultivars which can optimise organic apple production and low input systems ( GILAD ,
2012; WARLOP et al. , 2010).

1004 GENETIKA, Vol. 47, No. 3, 993-1011, 2015
It is important to note that the delineation of species within the Malus genus has been
problematic. For apple, most of the cultivated varieties have common genitors ( M. sie rversii , M.
sylvestris , M. pumila ), therefore the use of wild species can bring valuable variability in successive
progenies. On the basis of life cycle characteristics and the mode of reproduction, slow rates of
evolution in perennial crops are expected ( OLSEN and SCHAAL , 2007; PICKERSGILL , 2007; ZEDER et
al., 2006); however, numerous perennial crops exhibit substantial morphological and genetic
divergence from their wild progenitors. Wild apple species display strong population structures
and high levels of introgression from domesticated apple, and this may threaten their genetic
integrity ( CORNILLE , 2014). The recent research has revealed a major role of hybridization in the
domestication of the cultivated apple and has highlighted the value of apple as an ideal model for
unravelling adaptive diversification processes in perennial fruit crops.
The pedigree of many apple cultivars is completely or partially unknown, often reducing
the efficiency of breeding schemes ( SALVI , 2014). The research concluded th at multi -generation
pedigree reconstruction studies will find wide application in apple and other species thanks to the
increasingly availability of high -coverage genome.
Perennial plants were deep -rooted considered as intractable systems for studying thei r
evolution, due to long time, involving several generations, needed and low rates of selfing.
However, new emerging technologies in conjunction with mature breeding collections and along
with a steadily increasing body of literature, are now facilitating evolutionary analyses in perennial
species, including apple ( MILLER and GROSS , 2011) so that premises for obtaining valuable hybrids
are very possible, especially if variability is vast enough and the possibility to study consecutive
hybrid generations, th at have wild Malus species as genitors, are analysed.
Means for vigour of the studied interspecific apple hybrids ranged from 4.63 ( M.
coronaria × Reinette Baumann) to 6.05 (Cluj 218/2 × M. niedzwetzkyana ). A smaller vigour was
obtained in combinations o f Frumos de Voine ști × M. floribunda (4.73) and M. zumi × Reinette
Baumann (4.93), which also had the smallest coefficient of variability inner hybrid families
(4.5%). Crossings between M. coronaria and Jonathan and respectively Reinette Baumann had the
vastest vigour variability among the F 1 descendents. This is unanticipated, due to the frequent
similarity seen in the seedlings of M. coronaria . Because of this uniformity among hybrids, it can
be claimed that they are non authentic, and apomixes reproducti on interfered. In a different
approach, KRON and HUSBAND (2009) showed that interspecific pollination occurred at a high rate
between wild Malus coronaria and domesticated apple, although no living hybrids survived in
their study.
Out of the five Malus species, M. coronaria , M. floribunda , M. niedzwetzkyana and M.
prunifolia had negative values for correlation coefficient (‘r’) calculated for vigour and
fructification. This might attest that vigorous trees also have a long juvenile period.
Although severa l agrotechnical approaches, such as the common method of grafting
juvenile twigs onto mature rootstocks, have been used to accelerate the phase transition in apple
breeding, a period of at least 3 -5 years is still required for apple seedlings to produce fl owers
(FISCHER , 1994; FLACHOWSKY et al. , 2009). After processing the statistical information, all hybrid
combinations had assured statistical differences. Among these, one combination had inferior
differences, while the rest got superior values, which actu ally means a tardy fructification.
Therefore, the combination with the shortest juvenile period was M. zumi × Jonathan. Among
cyclic hybrid combinations that implied Malus species as genitors in the current study, M. zumi
and M. punifolia formed seedlings with shorter juvenile period. Even so, no hybrid combination

A. SESTRAS et.al:WILD APPLE SPECIES 1005
fruited before 6 years of vegetation and based on the interpretation of the variability coefficient for
this trait, the possibilities to get extreme values (with the focus for smaller ones, which implies an
earlier fructification) is highly diminished.
HAJNAJARI et al. (2012) evaluated vegetative and productive features at apple seedlings, in
order to select superior genitors, oriented also to produce new early -ripening cultivars. They obtained
positive correlations among trees’ height and other morphological traits such as branch distance,
seedling stem and number of branches. Besides, heritability was found to be high among chlorophyll
concentration and seedlings’ height, in both half -sib and ful l-sib families. Heritability of half -sib
progenies derived from the early -ripening genitors was higher than the ones of late -ripening. The
relatively high heritability estimated for morphological traits, particularly in early -ripening cross
combinations, s uggested narrow -sense heritability as a criterion for early screening.
A short juvenile period is a desirable characteristic for apple growers and therefore
breeding programs have to answer to this demand; many researchers are still studying possibilities
to obtain early fructification cultivars and clarify the potential of gene flow (ACQUAAH , 2009;
KUMAR , 2014; FISCHER , 1994; LANE et al. , 2003; KENIS et al. , 2008; YAMAGISHI et al. 2013) .
The genus Malus includes both commercial apple and crabapple with the primary
difference between them being the fruit traits; crabapple fruit have usually 1 -4 cm, whereas
commercial apples have fruit greater than 6 cm in diameter. Although cultivated apple ( Malus ×
domestica Borkh.) arose primarily from M. sieversii , many c ommonly used crabapple species such
as M. prunifolia (Willd) Borkh., M. baccata (L.) Borkh., M. mandshurica (Maxim) Kom. and M.
sieboldii (Regel) Rehder may have hybridized with M. sieversii (LUBY , 2003). These potential
progenitors to the commercial apple can be used in breeding programs and serve as a source of
durable resistance to scab and other major diseases of Malus . The enlargement of genetic pool is
considering also alternative approaches to introduce new quality and resistance traits, taking into
consideration also the establishment of intergeneric hybrids for horticultural and agricultural crops
(e.g. Malus domestica × Pyrus communis ) (FISCHER , 2014).
M. floribunda (considered to be either a hybrid species, or derived from M. sieboldii × M.
bacca ta), had mean fruit size of 3.2 (small fruit) whereas species characteristic is a diameter of
0.5-1 cm. M. zumi (hybrid species from M. manshurica and M. sieboldii ) also had the mean fruit
size of 3.2, while species characteristic fruit have 1 -2.5 cm. M. p runifolia , even though is known
as larger Chinese crab apple ( JANICK et al. , 1996) and has the larger fruit size among the studied
wild species, gave the smallest mean, of 2.7 (small fruit).
BROWN (2012) analysed fruit shape, size and time interval of ripe ning in progenies of the
cultivated apple. By treating the data as an incomplete diallel cross and establishing midparental
values, the researcher pointed out that the calculated main effects of each genitor allows predictions
regarding the progeny means f or untested combinations of parents.
Common features of domesticated woody perennials (trees) is dwarfism and larger fruit
that are more variable in color, taste and other traits related to human preferences, that make
apples “prettier, easier to eat and e asier to transport” (rowfoodssos.com). The basis of taste is the
balance between sweetness and acidity, and in this regard wild species are known to be sour, even
bitter, acid, dry, unappetizing, and therefore are valuable in breeding programs for variabil ity and
genetic variation more that being genitors for dessert apple. In the current study, based on rapidly
sensory evaluation test, it could be considered that all Malus wild species were classified within
the inferior classes (‘1’ or ‘2’ score), while t he cultivars used as genitors, had a more agreeable
taste, as expected.

1006 GENETIKA, Vol. 47, No. 3, 993-1011, 2015
The use of wild species in breeding for fruit quality improvement requires a good
understanding of the gene flow, whereas studies are being unroll upon fruit quality given by
composit ion ( MA et al. , 2015). Wild Malus taxa were considered useful sources of genetic
variation for apple breeding and their conclusion was that fruit acidity rather than sweetness is
likely to have undergone selection during domestication. The researchers inve stigated the genetic
relationship between cultivated and wild apple and the results showed that the wild relatives were
closely related to cultivars. Therefore, the difference in sugar composition between wild and
cultivated fruit is likely the result of t he hitchhiking effect associated with artificial selection on
fruit acidity during the process of apple domestication.
The generally low correlations obtained for the F 1 apple interspecies hybrids are in
agreement with low values that ORAGUZIE (2001) come by, which suggested that the genotypes
responded differently to the environment.
The similarity among some hybrids and the origin specie (e.g. M. coronaria , Fig. 2)
might be due to ‘non authentic hybdrids’, partenocarpic progenies. It is known that in th e case of
M. coronaria apomixis and unreduced gamete production have the potential to gene introgression
which might be a barrier through hybridization ( KRON and HUSBAND , 2009 ). Their results suggest
that strong barriers to the establishment of hybrid prog eny may follow relatively weak limits to
hybrid seed production.
Heritability indicates whenever an individual phenotype can be used to predict the
parental performance regarding interest traits. A low heritability indicates a relatively high
importance o f non additive genetic variance and/or environmental variance; it could also suggest
the need for progeny testing or cloning for accurate selection. The other options would be to
increase the heritability estimates by decreasing the environmental variance. In a broad sense,
heritability can be defined as the ratio between the genotypic variance and the phenotypic
variance. Hence, genes that correspond to visible traits have stronger influence than the
environment on the trait expression.
CORNILLE (2015) st ated that human activities and climate are key drivers of gene flow in
wild temperate fruit trees and provide a practical basis for conservation, agroforestry and breeding
programs for apples in Europe. In particular, the anthropization of landscapes and t he cultivation
of crops over extended areas have increased the opportunities for contact between cultivated plants
and their wild relatives. However, in extreme environmental condition the environment can
suppress the gene effect ( SEGURA et al. , 2006). The refore breeders can only select genetically
inherited traits in order to achieve significant genetic improvement. Heritability definitions can be
accurate only for specific population and environments ( SOUZA et al. , 2000).
The genetic background of a popu lation can affect the phenotypic expression of certain
traits transmitted to the next generation. For instance if both parents are homozygous for a specific
trait with different alleles, the individuals of the F 1 generation will all display heterozygous
genotypes. Apple cultivars are known for their heterozygous genomes and therefore the results of
heritability tests are relatively reliable ( SEGURA et al. , 2006).
Heritability of fruit weight obtained from open -pollinated families hybrids by ALSPACH
and ORA GUZIE (2002) were mostly consistent with those derived from parent -offspring regression
using data of ORAGUZIE et al. (2001) and concurred with those of CURRIE et al. (2000) when crab
apples were included in the study. DUREL et al. (1998) estimated the her itability for fruit size as
0.33, while ORAGUZIE et al. (2001) estimated for fruit weight a heritability range 0.51 -0.61, for

A. SESTRAS et.al:WILD APPLE SPECIES 1007
crab apple. These differences may be partially related also with the chosen approach, therefore a
bear comparison would not offer a clear conclusion.
Regardless the effect of methodology applied in the current study upon the values
obtained for genetic parameters, data validate that by using wild species for new progenies, genetic
base can gain variability and new hybrids enlarge Malus genetic pool. The vast heterozygote
nature of the F 1 seedlings constitutes a key base, whereas the biological material – interspecific
hybrids represent a valuable breeding material, for obtaining new dessert and ornamental cultivars.

CONCLUSIONS
The p ossibility to induce valuable traits is directly dependent on the availability of
sufficient genetic diversity, while apple breeding has eroded in time the genetic base of domestic
and commercial cultivars. The five Malus species crossed with several apple cultivars assured the
variability within the hybrids, which represent a tremendous diversity of genetic background,
regarding trees vigour, juvenile period, fruit characteristics and aesthetic traits. As F 1 interspecific
hybrids have mostly small and not qualitative taste fruit, inherited as rustic traits from the wild
genitor, it is improbable to become dessert cultivars. They might be used as gene pool for
decorative apple, or included in breeding schemes that allow future improvements by
contemporary me thods and can bring new considerations of the gene flow through consecutive
progenies. Nevertheless, the interspecific hybrids are to be used in future generations of seedlings
and enlarge the genetic base for selection of consume and ornamental apple.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This paper was published under the frame of European Social Fund, Human Resources
Development Operational Programme 2007 -2013, project no. POSDRU/159/1.5/S/132765.
Received April 07h, 201 5
Accepted October 20th, 201 5

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A. SESTRAS et.al:WILD APPLE SPECIES 1011
ISTRAŽIVANJA POTENCIJALA DIVLJIH VRSTA U POVEĆANJU GENETIČKOG
DIVERZITETA KORISNOG U OPLEMENJIVANJU JABUKA

Catalina DAN1, Adriana F. SESTRAS1,*, Calin BOZDOG1,2, Radu E. SESTRAS1

1 Univerzitet pojoprivrednih nauka i veterinarske medicine Cluj -Napoca, Romania
2 Stanica za istraživanje voćaka,, Cluj -Napoca, Romania

Izvod
Vršena su ispitivanja uticaja divljih vrsta na potomstvo i njihov kapacitet u povećanju
genetičkog diverziteta. Međuvrstni klijanci su ispitivani u pet parova ukrštanja kod kojih su Malus
vrste ukrštane sa različitim kultivarima u ciju dobijanja half-sib familija. Broj F 1 potomstva po
kombinaciji je varirao od 1 ( Cluj 218/2 × M. floribunda ) do 142 ( Reinette Baumann × M.
floribunda ), sa ukupnim brojem od 1650 F 1 hibrida. Juvenilni period je varirao od 6.00 ( M. zumi ×
Jonathan) do 9.31 godina (Cluj 218/2 × M. floribunda ). U zavisnosti od roditeljske formule
aditivni efekat gena može biti inferioran kada se vrši poređenje genetičkog efekta dominantnosti i
epistaze. Iako su M. zumi i M. flor ibunda ostvarile istu geneti čku dobit (0.31), M. zumi je imao viši
očekivani odgovor na selekciju za veličinu ploda. Dobijeni rezultati potvrđuju da su divlje vrste
pogodni izvori genetičke varijabilnosti kako za dezertne tako i za hortikulturne vrste jabu ka.
Primljeno 07. IV. 2015.
Odobreno 20.X. 2015.