Evaluation of genetic resources of white grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.)

Abstract

Geographical location, climate and historical affinities are the main factors that have contributed to creating a diverse assortment of grapevine varieties in the area of Slovenia. The grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.) can be described at several levels, using different methods. Evaluation can be done on the basis of morphological, morphometrical, biochemical and genetic characteristics of each variety. In this paper the biochemical analysis of carotenoid pigments and DNA analysis using molecular markers observed similarities between seventeen grapevine accessions. The purpose of this study was to find connections between carotenoids, shapes and measurements, evaluation of chemotaxonomical potential of obtained results to distinguish among varieties, and these properties compare with the results of the qualitative analysis with microsatellites. The study included 17 different genetic resources of white grapevine varieties, which are planted in the collection vineyard of Biotechnical Faculty (BF), which can also serve as a gene bank. The results of the evaluation with treated genotypes are supplemented on biochemical and genetic level. Generally, the accessions are divided into three major groups within which there are minor discrepancies, probably due to the properties of individual genotypes and the impact environment.