Genotyping of Bulgarian Vitis vinifera L. cultivars by microsatellite analysis

characterization of the Bulgarian grapevine genepool (Vitis vinifera L. cultivars) was initiated through microsatellite analysis. Seventy four wine and table grapevine varieties from the National List of Cultivars, were analyzed at 9 microsatellite loci: VVS2, ssrVvUCH11, ssrVvUCH 29, ssrVrZAG21, ssrVrZAG47, ssrVrZAG62, ssrVrZAG64, ssrVrZAG79 and ssrVrZAG83. The high genetic diversity (78 %) allowed accurate identification and discrimination of the cultivars. The low PI value (1.201 x 10(-8)) reflects the high discriminative power of the chosen set of markers for the investigated population. Based on the microsatellite allele data, two pairs of old native varieties, Misket Cherven and Misket Vrachanski; Tamyanka and Tamyanka tvarda, were considered distinct cultivars. The synonymy of (i) Tainyanka, Italian Moscato Bianco and Greek Moschato Kerkyras and (ii) Pamid and Greek Pamidi was verified, while the putative synonymy of Mavrud and Greek Mavroudi Arachovis was rejected. Further utilization of microsatellite profiling in the management of the Bulgarian grapevine genepool is discussed.