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Current research of autochthonous grapevine germplasm in Istra (Croatia)

The scientific and research work of the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč includes a long term researches and activities aimed to preservation and valorisation of autochthonous grapevine varieties in Istria (Croatia). It comprises a creation of database, fieldwork, morphological measurements, chemical, sanitary and genetic analyses as well as planting of mother vines. Recently, research work was focused on data collection, fieldwork, labelling, as well as morphological, chemical, sanitary and genetic analyses. Our future plans include the planting of grapevine mother plantations as a guarantee for permanent preservation and possibility of economic valorisation of considered varieties. The majority of Istrian local cultivars have been neglected for a long time, primarily due to well-known European cultivars domination and the lack of good-quality propagation material. Lately, as a consequence of modern market trends, favoring the regional specific products, autochthonous cultivars have risen in importance. Therefore, a program for conserving grapevine genetic resources and clonal selection of commercially most important Istrian native cultivars has been developed. In the framework of this program, a complex survey throughout the Istrian Peninsula was performed. More than 40 selected old vineyards were inspected in order to find and collect healthy vines, comprising commercially most important autochthonous cultivars and also some endemic, almost extinct varieties. Sanitary status of chosen, asymptomatic vines was determined by four years ELISA screening. Results revealed the worrying health condition of some cultivars showing a high incidence of virus infection. Vines free of tested viruses were propagated and planted in Institute’ s experimental vineyard in order to proceed the next phases of clonal selection. Endemic varieties representatives were planted in gene bank collection vineyard with the aim of biodiversity preservation. Beside abovementioned, current research project include also the genotyping of native germplasm with the aim of correct identification and documentation of plant material as well as molecular database formation, which would facilitate and increase the possibilities for comparison and integration of world grapevine genotypes.

grapevine; variety; clone; germplasm

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