Abstract
Molecular biology techniques have become indispensable tools in various areas of research and routine applications. In South Tyrol (northern Italy), molecular methods have been applied to the field of fruit growing over the last decade, and the main applications have been related to plant pathology and identification of apple cultivars. This review article illustrates how the implementation of existing methods and the development of new assays have contributed to gain more insights about the spread and epidemiology of phytoplasma diseases affecting apple trees and grapevine in South Tyrol, to identify and characterise the causal agents of newly emerging disorders, or to describe the local genetic diversity of the apple. © 2012 The Author(s).