Assessment of Viticultural Biodiversity: Recovery of Indigenous Grapevine Genotypes from Ancient Vineyards of El-Kantara (Calceus Herculis) in Algeria

The vineyards of El-Kantara (Calceus Herculis, Algeria) have an ancient viticultural tradition that has never been scientifically documented. This study aims to evaluate the genetic and phenotypic diversity of this region to preserve native grapevine genetic resources. A combined approach of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and ampelographic characterization based on 35 Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) descriptors was applied to 51 grapevine cultivars. Genetic analysis revealed moderate diversity, identifying eight international Mediterranean varieties, four known Algerian cultivars, and six novel genotypes with proposed names ‘Aïn Taher’, ‘Ineb Ganteri’, ‘Datté Ganteri’, ‘Seouikiya’, ‘Bayedha d’El-Kantara’, and ‘Ineb ElDjebel’. Ampelographic analyses revealed significant phenotypic variation, with principal component analysis (PCA) explaining 77% of the total variance, primarily driven by vein length and sinus shape. Cluster analysis demonstrated strong alignment between molecular and morphological data, grouping the novel genotypes into distinct morphological categories. These findings highlight a unique and previously undocumented genetic heritage in El-Kantara’s vineyards and underscore the need for a national strategy to conserve and promote Algeria’s native grapevine resources, ensuring their preservation for future viticultural and breeding programmes.