Study on the Identification and Incidence Pattern of the Pathogen Causing Apple Scab in Wild Apple Forests of Ili, Xinjiang

Yaxuan Li, Caixia Wang, Wanbin Shi, Ziyan Xu, Lan Li and Rong Ma ()
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Yaxuan Li: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Caixia Wang: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Wanbin Shi: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Ziyan Xu: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
Lan Li: Alashankou Customs Technology Center, Alashankou 833418, China
Rong Ma: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: Apple scab poses a significant threat to wild apple orchards in the Ili region of Xinjiang, yet the pathogen responsible and its disease dynamics remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify the causal agent of apple scab in wild apples and elucidate its disease development pattern to support effective monitoring and control strategies. Field surveys were conducted regularly from 2023 to 2025 in fixed plots and sample trees of Malus sieversii . A total of 29 isolates were obtained from diseased fruits collected in Xinyuan and Huocheng counties using tissue isolation and single-spore purification. Pathogenicity was confirmed via Koch’s postulates, and the pathogen was identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Scab symptoms first appeared on leaves in late April (during leaf expansion, disease index 0.34) and on fruits in early June (during fruit enlargement, disease index 0.57). The disease index peaked in late August (47.24 on leaves; 22.51 on fruits), followed by fruit drop at month-end and leaf abscission in late September. The pathogen overwintered mainly in remaining or fallen diseased leaves (isolation rate 17.71%), serving as the primary source of initial infection in the following growing season. The pathogen causing apple scab in Xinjiang wild apple orchards was identified as Venturia inaequalis . Overwintered infected leaves were confirmed as the key primary inoculum source. These findings clarify the taxonomic identity of the pathogen and its epidemic pattern, providing a theoretical basis for disease management.

Keywords: apple scab; Malus sieversii; Venturia inaequali; incidence pattern; phylogenetic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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