Molecular Characterization of Bonarda-type Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) Cultivars from Argentina, Italy, and France

Abstract

Bonarda is the second most cultivated red variety in Argentina after Malbec. Morphologically, the Argentine-Bonarda shows strong similarities with three grape varieties from northern Italy, collectively called Bonarda, and the French variety Corbeau. Twelve Argentine-Bonarda accessions, three Bonarda-type cultivars from Italy (Bonarda Piemontese, Croatina, and Uva Rara), and the French variety Corbeau were analyzed at eight microsatellite loci. Overall, the eight SSRs revealed only four distinct genotypes, corresponding to Bonarda Piemontese, Croatina, Uva Rara, and Corbeau. All the Argentine-Bonarda accessions were identical in their SSR profiles to the French Corbeau, indicating, with a high confidence level, that they are the same variety.