Genetic Characterization of Old Slovenian Grapevine Varieties of Vitis vinifera L. by Microsatellite Genotyping

Abstract

Microsatellite genotyping of 38 local Slovenian varieties was performed using 11 SSR markers that have been shown to be highly polymorphic in European Vitis resources. Combining those data with previous studies, 49 unique genotypes were identified within the varieties currently cultivated in the Slovenian Primorje region. These genotypes were further compared to 161 cultivars from eight European countries to assess their genetic relationships. A high level of genetic diversity among Slovenian grapevines was revealed and some unknown relationships were discovered. Identity analyses revealed 11 groups of synonyms among Slovenian varieties and three matches between a Slovenian variety and a variety from other countries. Several groups of Slovenian varieties with similar names resulted in different SSR profiles. The genetic distances between varieties used in Slovenia and the most popular cultivars used in other European countries revealed the closest relationship with Croatian varieties and the most distant with French varieties.