Articles
Autochthonous grapevine cultivars from various cultivation centers enrich the reference collection of Greece
Article number
1439_68
Pages
513 – 520
Language
English
Abstract
The Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA) is the only institutional curator for the conservation of the autochthonous cultivars of Greece.
This phytogenetic material is maintained in three vineyards: the oldest and larger of them is located in Lykovrysi (Athens), the second vineyard is located in Thermi (Thessaloniki), while the third one is in Heraklion (Crete). The cultivars that are maintained in these three vineyards constitute the reference collection of the country.
Nearly all of the 237 autochthonous cultivars that are registered in the updated national registry of cultivated grapevine cultivars are conserved in this reference collection together with many international cultivars and rootstocks.
Since the summer of 2022, the molecular profile of almost all the autochthonous cultivars maintained in the reference collection have been revealed on ten molecular loci.
Recent molecular investigations that have been performed on grapevine material collected during exploratory missions by the ELGO-DIMITRA research group at various cultivation centers of Greece showed that there are genotypes cultivated in the vineyards of the country that are not maintained in the reference collection, and therefore, they have not been registered or characterized yet.
Usually, these genotypes are named by the growers after a particular phenotypic characteristic that is readily observable; alternatively, they are named after a known cultivar – often, the latter cases represent cases of misnaming.
During the exploratory missions, many samples (parts of one-year-old canes) have been collected, with the intention to be used, first, for molecular analysis, and then, those genotypes that have been found not to be represented in the reference collection, to receive treatment that will allow them to produce roots and then transplanted in the open vineyard enriching the national reference collection.
In the years to come, first, ampelographic description and, then, oenological evaluation will take place providing the necessary data for the registration of the newly discovered material in the national registry.
This phytogenetic material is maintained in three vineyards: the oldest and larger of them is located in Lykovrysi (Athens), the second vineyard is located in Thermi (Thessaloniki), while the third one is in Heraklion (Crete). The cultivars that are maintained in these three vineyards constitute the reference collection of the country.
Nearly all of the 237 autochthonous cultivars that are registered in the updated national registry of cultivated grapevine cultivars are conserved in this reference collection together with many international cultivars and rootstocks.
Since the summer of 2022, the molecular profile of almost all the autochthonous cultivars maintained in the reference collection have been revealed on ten molecular loci.
Recent molecular investigations that have been performed on grapevine material collected during exploratory missions by the ELGO-DIMITRA research group at various cultivation centers of Greece showed that there are genotypes cultivated in the vineyards of the country that are not maintained in the reference collection, and therefore, they have not been registered or characterized yet.
Usually, these genotypes are named by the growers after a particular phenotypic characteristic that is readily observable; alternatively, they are named after a known cultivar – often, the latter cases represent cases of misnaming.
During the exploratory missions, many samples (parts of one-year-old canes) have been collected, with the intention to be used, first, for molecular analysis, and then, those genotypes that have been found not to be represented in the reference collection, to receive treatment that will allow them to produce roots and then transplanted in the open vineyard enriching the national reference collection.
In the years to come, first, ampelographic description and, then, oenological evaluation will take place providing the necessary data for the registration of the newly discovered material in the national registry.
Authors
G. Merkouropoulos, G. Doupis
Keywords
Vitis vinifera, molecular identification, molecular ampelography, SSRs, microsatellites
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