Dormancy is an adaptive mechanism that enables plants to survive unfavorable climatic conditions. The production of temperate fruits, such as apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.), is closely related to bud dormancy, which is triggered by exposure to cold. Therefore, the predicted impact of the ongoing climate changes will result in difficulties for apple production. The present work aims to prospect and characterize genes encoding Dormancy-Associated (DAM) and flowering-time related MADS-box transcription factors in the dormancy process of apple. On one hand, we are exploring the allelic variation present in genes involved in bud dormancy and flowering control in an apple core collection. We have developed a target capture sequencing approach and used it for genome-wide association studies (GWAS). On the other hand, we are identifying protein-protein interactions between DAM and flowering-time proteins by yeast-two-hybrid and searching for their transcriptional targets. By making use of these approaches, we have re-defined and narrow down genomic regions associated to bud dormancy. Additionally, we have identified potential transcriptional complexes containing DAM and flowering-time related proteins that act in apple bud dormancy. These studies contribute to better characterize key processes in dormancy molecular control, as well as to identify possible biotechnological resources for breeding programs.