Ampelographic and molecular diversity among grapevine (Vitis spp.) cultivars

This study presents the ampelographic and molecular characterization of 44 grapevine cultivars. Ampelographic data were obtained during two vegetation periods using the latest version of the descriptors. Based on the mean values transformed by the method indicated in IBPGR publications, a dendrogram was constructed. ISSR analysis was also employed to characterize the genotypes at the DNA level. Twenty primers, selected on the basis of their discriminating potential, generated a total of 157 bands, of which 140 were polymorphic. The dendrograms constructed by the two approaches were largely similar in both the clustering position and divergence of varietal groups. The least distance was observed between Yuvarlak Cekirdeksiz and Superior Seedless. The clustering position of cultivars throughout the dendrograms was basically related to the genetic distances and main uses, as well as to geographic origins.