Ampelographic and genetic characterisation of ancestral grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) accessions present in the Umbria Region (Central Italy)

During an ongoing effort to recover and preserve local germplasm, 14 accessions of indigenous minor grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars from the Umbria Region, Central Italy, were chosen because they had been neglected and were threatened with extinction. Their phenotypic and genetic characteristics were evaluated through an ampelographic study of their shoots, mature leaves, bunches, and berries and by genomic analysis using an international set of nine microsatellite (simple sequence repeat; SSR) markers (VVS2, VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD27, VrZAG62, VrZAG79, VVMD25, VVMD28, and VVMD32). Comparisons of the SSR profiles of all 14 accessions with grapevine accessions in several databases permitted the identification of unique genotypes, as well as possible synonyms. Information on these older, neglected cultivars will help to reduce the genetic erosion of grapevine germplasm, improve conservation and possible recovery, and assist in the future production of new, distinctive wines.