Contribution to the recovery of grapevine cultivated biodiversity in Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige regions (North-East Italy) through genetic characterization

After dozens of years of prospections in North-East Italy aiming at the recovery and valorization of ancient grapevine germplasm, it is still possible to find new genotypes. One-hundred-sixty-three grapevine samples were recovered in Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige regions, as a result of sur­veys performed from 2021 to 2024. In total, 163 vines were sampled at 36 sites. Genotyping was performed using 12 SSR markers, nine of them internationally adopted for grape varietal identification, and 98 SSR profiles were obtained. By comparison of these profiles with reference molecular databases, 87 profiles were ascribed to known varieties, and seven remained anonymous. Some hybrids were detected. PCA showed the complex history and different geographi­cal origin of the compared genotypes: some were closer to the Balkan varieties ‘Vulpea’, ‘Heunisch weiss’ and ‘Muscat à petits grains blancs’, while others were closer to ‘Raboso Piave’ or to ‘Garganega’. Among the novelties found, some are under observation since 2022 for ampelographic and oeno­logical evaluation, like ‘Brepona’, ‘Ottavia’, ‘Pontedara’, ‘Rossa Baver’, ‘Rossa Burgan’, and ‘Saccola bianca’.