Pedigrees of Fifty Table-Grape Cultivars

Abstract

Information on the origin of elite table-grape cultivars is essential for breeding programs. A parentage study on table-grape accessions based on analysis of 25 nuclear and five chloroplast microsatellite loci was carried out. The pedigree of 50 cultivars was analyzed, including morphology studies when necessary. The chlorotypes clarify the direction of the crosses in the majority of cases, while likelihood ratios indicate high reliability of the proposed crosses. Nineteen new pedigrees are proposed for varieties from highly diverse geographical origins, such as Circé, Imperial Roja, Misket Vratchanskii, Mistress Hall, and Pizzutello Nero. Mistakes were also detected in previously described pedigrees for 13 cultivars, including Delizia di Vaprio and Madeleine Angevine. Alternative parents were identified for these 13 varieties. For another 18 varieties the previously proposed pedigree was confirmed. The cultivars Muscat of Alexandria, Afus Ali, Muscat Hamburg, and Chasselas were the most frequent parents of these 50 varieties.