The Cypriot Indigenous Grapevine Germplasm Is a Multi-Clonal Varietal Mixture

Area of Science:

• Viticulture and Plant Genetics
• Mediterranean Agricultural History
• Ancient Crop Germplasm Studies

Background:

• Cyprus is a key ancient center for grapevine (Vitis spp.) domestication and dissemination.
• Millennial grapevine presence has resulted in diverse, yet uncharacterized, biotypes with unique stress tolerance.
• Ancient Cypriot germplasm survived phylloxera, retaining substantial, unnoticed genetic diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the genetic lineage and diversity of indigenous Cypriot grapevine cultivars.
• To investigate the genetic structure of ancient germplasm from the Commandaria wine zone.
• To understand the historical shaping of grapevine lineages in Cyprus through propagation methods.

Main Methods:

• Collected 164 centennial grapevine accessions from the Commandaria wine zone over two years.
• Utilized a universal microsatellite primer set for genetic characterization.
• Analyzed genetic data to determine population structure and heterozygosity.

Main Results:

• Cypriot indigenous germplasm exhibits a polyclonal structure with high heterozygosity.
• Genetic analysis revealed a greater number of discrete genotypes than previously considered.
• Identified evidence of both clonal and sexual propagation shaping grapevine lineages across different eras.

Conclusions:

• Cypriot vineyards possess a rich, complex genetic heritage with potential for novel discoveries.
• The study underscores the importance of characterizing and conserving this ancient grapevine diversity.
• Historical propagation practices have significantly influenced the genetic landscape of Cypriot grapevines.