Current distribution and characterization of the wild grapevine populations in Andalusia (Spain)

Culturable Yeast Diversity of Grape Berries from Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi

Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi is recognized as the dioecious parental generation of today’s cultivars. Climatic change and the arrival of pathogens and pests in Europe led it to be included on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species in 1997. The present work focused on the study of culturable yeast occurrence and diversity of grape berries collected from wild vines. Sampling was performed in 29 locations of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Italy, Romania, and Spain. In total, 3431 yeast colonies were isolated and identified as belonging to 49 species, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, by 26S rDNA D1/D2 domains and ITS region sequencing. Isolates of S. cerevisiae were also analyzed by SSR–PCR obtaining 185 different genotypes. Classical ecology indices were used to obtain the richness (S), the biodiversity (H’), and the dominance (D) of the species studied. This study highlights the biodiversity potential of natural environments that still represent a fascinating source of solutions to common problems in winemaking.

Genetic Characterization by SSR Markers of a Comprehensive Wine Grape Collection Conserved at Rancho de la Merced (Andalusia, Spain)

The IFAPA research center “Rancho de la Merced” (Jerez, Spain) hosts one of the oldest and most diverse grapevine germplasm repositories in Europe, and is aimed at providing feasible solutions to deal with any agronomic trait by exploring its genetic variability and by means of association and Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) editing studies. In this work, we focused on a wine and dual-use grapevine subcollection that consists of 930 accessions. Genetic analysis allowed to identify 521 unique genotypes. After comparing them with several databases, matches were found for 476 genetic profiles while the remaining 45 have not been previously described. Combination with clustering analysis suggested a total pool of 481 Vitis vinifera accessions that included some table cultivars. Several synonymies, homonymies and mislabeling have also been detected. Structure analysis allowed identifying six clusters according to eco-geographic cultivation areas and one additional group including non-vinifera accessions. Diversity analysis pointed out that Spanish Mediterranean varieties are genetically closer to oriental genotypes than to European varieties typical of oceanic and continental climates. The origin of Spanish varieties is discussed in depth considering our data and previous studies. Analysis of molecular variance partition confirmed a well-structured germplasm, although differentiation among groups had a much lower effect on genetic variability than differences within groups, which are strongly related to a very high heterozygosity. A core collection that covers all allele richness is proposed. It is constituted of about 13% of total accessions, and each cluster inferred by structure analysis is represented.

The Rise of Wine among Ancient Civilizations across the Mediterranean Basin

The purpose of this work is to present the archaeological and historical background of viticulture and winemaking from ancient times to the present day in the Mediterranean basin. According to recent archaeological, archaeochemical and archaeobotanical data, winemaking emerged during the Neolithic period (c. 7th–6th millennium BC) in the South Caucasus, situated between the basins of the Black and Caspian Seas, and subsequently reached the Iberian Peninsula and Western Europe during the local beginning of Iron Age (c. 8th century BC), following the main maritime civilizations. This review summarises the most relevant findings evidencing that the expansion of wine production, besides depending on adequate pedo-climatic conditions and wine-growing practices, also required the availability of pottery vessels to properly ferment, store and transport wine without deterioration. The domestication of wild grapevines enabled the selection of more productive varieties, further sustaining the development of wine trade. Other fermented beverages such as mead and beer gradually lost their relevance and soon wine became the most valorised. Together with grapes, it became an object and a system of value for religious rituals and social celebrations throughout successive ancient Western civilizations. Moreover, wine was used for medicinal purposes and linked to a wide variety of health benefits. In everyday life, wine was a pleasant drink consumed by the elite classes and commoner populations during jubilee years, festivals, and banquets, fulfilling the social function of easy communication. In the present work, emphasis is put on the technical interpretation of the selected archaeological and historical sources that may explain present viticultural and oenological practices. Hopefully, this review will contribute to nurturing mutual understanding between archaeologists and wine professionals.

Identification of powdery mildew resistance in wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris Gmel Hegi) from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris) is widely recognized as an important source of resistance or tolerance genes for diseases and environmental stresses. Recent studies revealed partial resistance to powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator, PM) in V. sylvestris from Central Asia. Here, we report resistance to PM of V. sylvestris collected from different regions of Croatia and in seedling populations established from in situ V. sylvestris accessions. Ninety-one in situ individuals and 67 V. sylvestris seedlings were evaluated for PM resistance according to OIV 455 descriptor. Three SSR markers (SC47-18, SC8-071-0014, and UDV-124) linked to PM resistance locus Ren1 were used to decipher allelic structure. Nine seedlings showed resistance in in vivo evaluations while leaf disk assays revealed three PM-resistant accessions. One V. vinifera cultivar used as a control for PM evaluations also showed high phenotypic resistance. Based on the presence of one or two resistance alleles that are linked to the Ren1 locus, 32 resistant seedlings and 41 resistant in situ genotypes were identified in the investigated set. Eight seedlings showed consistent phenotypic PM resistance, of which seven carried one or two alleles at the tested markers. This study provides the first evidence of PM resistance present within the eastern Adriatic V. sylvestris germplasm.

Study of the unknown vine genotype found in Abkhazia

The territory of Abkhazia belongs to the region of origin of the cultivated grapevine. Wild forms, intermediate forms between wild and cultivated grapevines and a variety of local native cultivars grow here. In the one of the private yards, a grapevine was found, the name and exact origin of which is not known. The vine showed no signs of fungal diseases in the humid conditions of the region during the absence of chemical treatment. The grape harvest was used to make red wine. DNA-fingerprinting of the unknown genotype was performed to determine its origin. Analysis of the identified DNA profile for 9 SSR loci in the international VIVC database did not reveal coincides with any known cultivar. The methods of Principal coordinates analysis and Bayesian analysis were used to compare the unknown genotype with the genotypes of Vitis vinifera L of several geographic groups and varieties - interspecific hybrids. The closest genotype to the unknown form is the variety Isabella (V. labrusca L. × V. vinifera L).

Assessment of wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris) chlorotypes and accompanying woody species in the Eastern Adriatic region

The Eastern Adriatic region, encompassing Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, is considered an important area of natural populations of wild grapevines (Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris). The wild grapevine arises in the Eastern Adriatic region in a contact zone of the EU-Mediterranean and the sub-Mediterranean characterized by typical karst relief. This study focuses on the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) analysis of wild grapevines and the biodiversity of accompanying woody species to better understand the genetic variation of the sylvestris populations of the Eastern Adriatic region and to investigate how this variation fits within today's wild grapevine distribution in the European continent. The allelic variation at nine cpDNA microsatellite loci of wild individuals was used to characterize haplotype diversity in 53 individuals from four population sites. All individuals were grouped into two chlorotypes: A and D, D being the rare haplotype among wild populations on the European continent. In total, 52 woody plant species were identified. However, the studied vegetation structures have been affected by permanent human pressure on natural resources and the preservation status of the collection sites. Based on our results, we conclude that the investigated areas were probably shelter zones for wild grapevine preservation during the unfavorable glaciation era.