Strategies and methods for conserving and exploring the intra-varietal genetic diversity of ancient grapevine varieties

LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food—Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

^* E-mail: elsagoncalves@isa.ulisboa.pt
^** E-mail: anteromart@isa.ulisboa.pt

Abstract

The antiquity and diversity of traditional grapevine varieties guarantee a strong historical and natural character and add high economic value to viticulture and wine. A high level of intra-varietal diversity of quantitative traits was naturally created and accumulated over centuries. Nowadays, this diversity allows one to carry out selection within a variety and adapt it to the most diverse environmental, agricultural, and market contexts. However, an unusually intense process of genetic erosion of intra-varietal diversity broke out in the 1980s and threatens to destroy within a few decades the diversity created over centuries and millennia. Therefore, the definition of strategies and methods for conserving and exploring intra-varietal genetic variability is crucial for the sustainability of viticulture rich in history and traditions. Those strategies are presented in this work.