Biodiversity and characterization of twenty-two Vitis vinifera L. cultivars in the Northwestern Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

Modern viticulture practices with vineyards planted to only one cultivar can contribute to the loss of grapevine diversity. The special geographic conditions in the northern and northwestern Iberian Peninsula make this region a refuge area where grapevine diversity is still high. The preservation of older traditional cultivars reduces the genetic erosion and allows the production of unique wines. A total of 22 older grapevine cultivars growing since 1993 at the grapevine collection located at the Misión Biológica de Galicia research station, Spain, are described in this work. The phenotypic and genetic variability have been evaluated through the ampelographic characteristics of the adult leaves and analysis of 10 microsatellite markers (VVS2, VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD25, VVMD27, VVMD28, VVMD31, VVMD32, VrZAG62, and VrZAG79). Describing these older cultivars, some of which have not been described to date, and resolving the problem of synonyms and homonyms are necessary steps in their recovery. Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Enology and Viticulture.