Combining Microsatellite Markers and Ampelography for Better Management of Romanian Grapevine Germplasm Collections

Abstract

Aiming to investigate the correspondence of phenotypic variability and molecular markers, 50 varieties of Vitis vinifera ssp. vinifera, ancient grapevine varieties grown on Romanian territory, were selected to be analysed. All varieties were subjected to ampelographic analyses with OIV descriptors and also to molecular analyses with 13 microsatellites. The morphology description with recommended methods corresponded with the reference literature, proving the correct registration of the varieties at the moment of acquisition. Markers efficiency for assessing the genetic diversity among studied varieties was evaluated by computation of statistic parameters referring to the polymorphisms found. Among the internationally recommended SSR markers, ISV4 and VMCNG4b9 markers displayed interesting PIC and PI values. By comparing the SSR profiles of the 50 Romanian grapevine varieties with those in the Eu database, the following can be concluded: confirmation of 10 synonymies mentioned in old documents, while 3 synonymies mentioned in old reference literature were not confirmed, new synonyms were found for 4 accessions, additional synonyms were found for 4 accessions, which are to be added to the previous ones already mentioned in the literature, the synonymies in three groups of accessions were documented for the first time in the specialised literature, the unicity of three Romanian accessions was proved (ʻMoroştinăʼ, ʻNegru mareʼ and ʻRomânieʼ) and the genetic profiles of 15 varieties were identical to those already recorded in the investigated databases

Keywords

• autochthonous cultivars
• genotyping
• homonyms
• synonyms
• SSR markers