Genetic characterization of grape varieties in Armenia

Authors

  • M. Dallakyan Center of Excellence in Applied Biosciences, Yerevan State University, Armenia
  • E. Zyprian Federal Centre for Breeding Research on Cultivated Plants, Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof, Siebeldingen, Germany
  • E. Maul Federal Centre for Breeding Research on Cultivated Plants, Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof, Siebeldingen, Germany
  • A. Yesayan Center of Excellence in Applied Biosciences, Yerevan State University, Armenia
  • N. Hovhannisyan Center of Excellence in Applied Biosciences, Yerevan State University, Armenia

Keywords:

clones, microsatellite markers, homonyms

Abstract

Historically, grapes have been an important crop in Armenia. The world‘s earliest known wine-making facility has been discovered in Armenia during excavation of Areni-1 cave between 2007-2010, and analysis has confirmed the discovery of the oldest complete wine production facility ever discovered dated between 6,000 B.C. and 8,000 B.C. Having thousands of years history, Armenian native grape varieties are characterized with high genetic diversity and variability. The study has evaluated the genetic diversity of the Armenian grapevine cultivars within the Vitis collection of the Scientific Center of Fruit Growing, Viticulture and Wine-making (Merdzavan, Armenia) and analysed the relationships of this genetic pool with the international varieties registered in European Vitis Database. The analysis of 59 accessions of grapevines from Armenia at 23 microsatellite markers generated 336 alleles. The most informative locus turned out to be VVS2 (21 alleles, PI = 0.016). Twelve cases of identical genotypes and five cases of homonymy among studied genotypes were identified. The genetic profiles of 28 accessions were unique. Most of them belonged to autochthonous varieties. Genetic analyses tools are highly contributing to the identification and inventory of existing grape varieties. The data generated proves the importance of molecular characterization of grapevines in Armenia especially old ones to support effective preservation of rich diversity of Armenian grape varieties and clones.

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Published

2015-08-17

Issue

Vol. 54 (2015): Vitis (Special Issue)

Section

Article

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