Genetic polymorphism of local Abkhazian grape cultivars

Local grape cultivars from different countries of the world are an important part of the gene pool of this culture. Of particular interest are the genotypes of the most ancient regions of viticulture. The territories of the subtropical zone of Georgia and the central part of Abkhazia belong to one of the centers of origin of the cultural grapevine. The purpose of the work was to genotype native Abkhazian grape cultivars, to study their genetic diversity based on DNA profiling data and to compare them with the genotypes of local varieties of other viticultural regions. Samples of plants were taken on the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia in private farmsteads and in the collection of the agricultural firm “Vina i Vody Abkhazii“ (“Wines and Waters of Abkhazia”). The genotyping of the Abkhazian cultivars Avasirhva, Agbizh, Azhapsh, Azhizhkvakva, Azhikvaca, Atvizh, Atyrkuazh, Achkykazh, Kachich was carried out using 14 DNA markers, 9 of which are standard microsatellite markers recommended for the identification of grape varieties. To improve our knowledge about the sizes of the identified alleles, we used the DNA of grape cultivars with a known allelic composition at the analyzed loci. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the observed heterozygosity for the analyzed loci exceeded expected values, which indicates a genetic polymorphism of the studied sample of varieties. Evaluation of genetic similarity within the analyzed group based on the results of genotyping at 14 loci showed that the cultivars Kachich and Azhapsh differed from the other Abkhazian varieties. The obtained DNA profiles of the Abkhazian cultivars were checked for compliance with DNA-fingerprints of grape varieties in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue. The Georgian varieties Azhizhkvakva and Tsitska turned out to be synonyms according to DNA profiles, two varieties from the Database (Italian Albana bianca and Georgian Ojaleshi) have differences in DNA-fingerprints from the varieties Atyrkuazh and Azhikvatsa only in one allele, respectively. When comparing the identified Abkhazian grape genotypes, their difference from the sample of Dagestan, Don, Greek, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, and French varieties and genetic similarity with the genotypes of Georgian grapes were shown.

Some Important Food Quality Traits of Autochthonous Grape Cultivars

Grapes (Vitis L.), one of the most important and old fruit crops in the world, are grown in a wide range of environments from Australia to North America and from Japan to Chile. All grape growing countries use both international and local cultivars in production to obtain fresh and dried fruits or wine. In Turkey, each region has their own local grape cultivars. Seven local cultivars and one standard grape cultivar, grown in Coruh valley, were analyzed for morphological traits (bunch size, berry color, and berry shape), biochemical characteristics (sugars, organic acids, vitamin C, phenolic compounds, total carotenoids, and flavonoids content), and % inhibition level (antioxidant capacity). The grape cultivars differed from each other in the morphological and biochemical traits. The grape berries contain predominantly nine main phenolic compounds, five organic acids, and two sugars. Among phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, rutin, and quercetin were found to be dominant for most of the cultivars between 2.365–5.112 mg/L, 0.923–2.147 mg/L, 0.856–1.711 mg/L, and 0.621–1.347 mg/L, respectively. The local cultivar Kirmizi Istanbul had more chlorogenic acid than the other cultivars. The berries with darker skin color, specifically Kara Turfanda and Nanebur, had higher % inhibition level (antioxidant capacity) than the brighter ones, which correspond also to the results of flavonoid contents. Overall, the local genotypes were found promising due to favorable properties and could be recommended for farmers and consumers.

Association Analysis and Estimation of Breeding Values of Iranian Table Grapevine Germplasm by Integrating Pomological and Molecular Data

Genetic resources in each country are valuable assets for sustainable development. An accurate knowledge of genetic behavior and identification of genomic loci associated with important economic traits will help breeders to run efficiently their breeding programs. Fourteen important pomological traits were measured on 45 Iranian table grape cultivars during three successive years. Molecular profile of studied cultivars was prepared with 39 (Simple sequence Repeat) SSR primers pairs. Genetic structure analysis based on the SSR markers revealed two sub-populations (K = 2) in the association panel. In association analysis using mixed linear model seven loci were found to be significantly associated with the studied traits at 5% probability level. Breeding values were also estimated for the pomological traits using the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). “Saghal Solian”, “At Ouzum”, “Garmian”, “Rishbaba Qermez”, “Taifi”, “Shahroudi”, “Sahebi Qermez”, “Lal Qermez”, “Alhaghi”, “Sarghola”, “Chava Ga”, “Qzl Ouzum” and “Agh Shani” table grape cultivars showed high and positive breeding value for cluster length, width and weight. Whereas “Garmian”, “Rishbaba Qermez”, “Fakhri”, “Agh Shani”, “Lal Sefid” and “Shirazi” had positive and high breeding value for pollen germination, fruit set in open pollination and fruit set under controlled pollination. Finally, Sarghola” and “Qzl Ouzum” showed the positive and highest breeding value for berry weight, flesh weight, cluster length, cluster width and cluster weight. The cultivar with high and positive breeding value can be used as a good parent for breeding of traits in hybridization programs because they can better transfer the desirable characteristics to the progeny in each case.

Influence of wine components on pellicle formation by pellicle-forming yeasts

This study aimed to clarify differences in susceptibility to red wine pellicle formation by pellicle-forming yeasts between two wine grape cultivars and to investigate wine components affecting pellicle formation. Twenty wines each of Muscat Bailey A (MBA) and Merlot (MR), the major grape cultivars of Japanese red wine, were used. Pellicle formation occurred more often in MBA wines than in MR wines, and almost all MBA wine surfaces were covered with pellicle after incubation for five days. Principal component analysis revealed the relationships between pellicle formation and the concentrations of ethanol, phenolics and tannins. The mean concentration of tannins in the pellicle MR wines (436 mg/L) was significantly lower than that in the non-pellicle MR wines (660 mg/L). Furthermore, the mean concentration of tannins in MBA wines (139 mg/L) was also significantly lower than that in MR wines (570 mg/L). Wine grape cultivar having a low concentration of tannins may be highly susceptible to pellicle formation by pellicle-forming yeasts during winemaking.

Influência das cultivares de videiras (Vitis vinifera L.) e do sistema de condução sobre a acarofauna

The South of Brazil is the largest producer of grapes, however this production is affected by climate and herbivores such as phytophagous mites. The aim of this work was to associate the mite fauna with the grape cultivars Chardonnay, BRS Lorena and hybrid cultivars rootstock Paulsen 1103, in trellising and espalier systems, in the municipalities of Bento Gonçalves and Garibaldi, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The cultivars were: Chardonnay trellis (Cl) Chardonnay espalier (Ce), BRS Lorena trellis (Ll), BRS Lorena espalier (Le) and the hybrid cultivars Paulsen rootstock 1103 (Pa). Monthly samplings were carried out from November 2016 to April 2017. Twenty plants per area were randomly sampled, from each plant three apical leaves were collected, apical, median and basal branches (60 leaves / area). In total, 6,865 mites belonging to seven families, 13 genera and 22 species were collected. The most abundant phytophagous belong to Tarsonemidae and Tenuipalpidae, the predators to Phytoseiidae and the generalists to Tydeidae and Iolinidae. The cultivars Lorena Ll was the greatest similarity (82.39%) among species mites, followed by Paulsen Pa (72.54%), Lorena Le (70.67%), Chardonnay Cl (31.79%) and Chardonnay Ce (31.48%). The highest dissimilarity among the cultivars occurred between Chardonnay Ce and Lorena Le (66.49%), followed by Chardonnay Ce, Chardonnay Cl (66.44%), Chardonnay Ce and Lorena Ll (61.49 %). Thus, there is homogeneity between the sampled cultivars and the conduction systems and the apical third of the leaves and the sampling period are important in determining the composition of the species.

Disease Susceptibility of Interspecific Cold-Hardy Grape Cultivars in Northeastern U.S.A

Susceptibility to diseases of economically important grapes is critical to the evaluation of germplasm recommended for commercial production and for the development of sustainable production systems. In 2018–2019, the cold-hardy grape cultivars including ‘Brianna’, ‘Crimson Pearl’, ‘Itasca’, ‘Louise Swenson’, ‘Marechal Foch’, ‘Marquette’ ‘Petite Pearl’, ‘St. Pepin’, and ‘Verona’ were evaluated on non-treated vines for susceptibility to downy mildew, powdery mildew, black rot, anthracnose, Phomopsis leaf spot and fruit rot, and Botrytis bunch rot. No cultivars were consistently disease-free, and all exhibited some degree of black rot and powdery mildew infection. Relative susceptibility to disease was not consistent across both years, but ‘Brianna’ had greater incidence of black rot and ‘Louise Swenson’ showed lower incidence of powdery mildew in both years. The relatively new cultivars ‘Crimson Pearl’ and ‘Verona’ exhibited comparatively moderate disease susceptibility overall. Growers typically manage diseases with fungicides on commercial farms, so cultivar susceptibility is just one component of a sustainable pest management and production system.

Biological Characteristics of Native Grape Cultivars of Crimean Region and Availability of their Use in Breeding

In the context of the global climate change, manifested in a rapid increase in environment temperature and a constant increase in freshwater deficiency, the problem of breeding new grapevine cultivars that would correspond to the present-day biosphere conditions emerged. The endurance of native cultivars to adverse soil and climatic conditions and their drought tolerance are of particular value in development of generative breeding. It is known that most of the Crimean native cultivars have a functionally female type of flower, low resistance to biotic environmental factors that affects the stability of fertilization, yield and directly depends on the climatic conditions of cultivation. The adaptive ability of Crimean native grape cultivars is possible to increase by method of hybridization. So, the specific objectives of the study include, definition of agrobiological parameters of native grape cultivars of Crimean region; assessment of vegetative and generative potential; calculation of the profitability of cultivation of Crimean native grape cultivars in comparison with the classic cultivars. The result of the research was the selection of genotypes from the group of native cultivars - traits donors and obtaining hybrids of the first generation, which are improved analogs of the Crimean native cultivars.