Characterization of South-American Grapevine Germplasm through Morphological and Molecular Approaches

Abstract

Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the oldest and most important perennial crops in the world used for the production of wine and table grapes, raisins, juices, liquors and vinegars. This is a diploid species (2n = 2x = 38) with a relatively small genome size of 475-500 Mb. The characterization and identification of varieties, cultivars, sports and clones has always been a central concern in viticultural research. Trueness-totype is necessary when planting vineyards, making wine, managing germplasm collections, choosing parents for controlled crosses, and legally protecting new cultivars. Historical evidence and information, combined with morphological data (ampelography and ampelometry), have frequently been used to characterize cultivars and define cultivars relationships. However, conclusions on this basis only are frequently questioned, leading to mistakes in identification . For these reasons alternative methods for cultivar identification, which better illustrate differences at the genotype level, are required.Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the oldest and most important perennial crops in the world used for the production of wine and table grapes, raisins, juices, liquors and vinegars. This is a diploid species (2n = 2x = 38) with a relatively small genome size of 475-500 Mb. The characterization and identification of varieties, cultivars, sports and clones has always been a central concern in viticultural research. Trueness-totype is necessary when planting vineyards, making wine, managing germplasm collections, choosing parents for controlled crosses, and legally protecting new cultivars. Historical evidence and information, combined with morphological data (ampelography and ampelometry), have frequently been used to characterize cultivars and define cultivars relationships. However, conclusions on this basis only are frequently questioned, leading to mistakes in identification . For these reasons alternative methods for cultivar identification, which better illustrate differences at the genotype level, are required.