Microsatellite genotyping of old Slovenian grapevine varieties (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L.) of the Primorje (coastal) winegrowing region

Abstract

Thirty-three grapevine varieties from Slovenia were genotyped at 21 microsatellite loci in order accurately to identify varieties and to evaluate their synonyms and homonyms, including varieties cultivated in neighbouring countries. Among Slovenian varieties some previously assumed synonyms were confirmed and some new ones were discovered: ‘Poljšakica Drnovk’ = ‘Istrska Malvazija’, ‘Pikolit Italy’ = ‘Pikolit Vienna’, ‘Vitovska grganja’ = ‘Racuk’ and ‘Prosecco’ = ‘Glera’ = ‘Števerjana’. Types of Zelen (‘Zelen Pokov’, ‘Zelen 66’ and ‘Zelen 2.4’) were distinct at several microsatellite loci so can only be considered to be homonyms. Two ‘Picolit’ types were considered to be ‘true-to-type’ on the basis of comparison with ‘Picolit’ clones from Italy. Synonymy between ‘Heunisch’ and ‘Belina’ was not confirmed in our study, since ‘Belina Pleterje’ differentiated from ‘Heunisch weiss’ at 13 out of 19 loci. Comparison of ‘Vitovska grganja’ from Slovenia with ‘Vitouska’ from Italy also showed dissimilarities at the majority of the analysed loci.