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Genetic diversity and traditional uses of aboriginal grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties from the main viticultural regions of Armenia

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Abstract

Being one of the oldest centers of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivation, Armenia is rich in local old grape varieties. Today, only a small portion of these varieties is widely used and many varieties that are well-adapted to their environment face extinction. Hence, a detailed investigation of their genetic diversity, uses, and potential for preservation is very important. Here, we present data generated through field studies, literature reviews, interviews with farmers, and genetic analyses for some important, neglected grape varieties distributed over the main viticulture regions of Armenia. During field surveys, 175 samples representing different cultivars and their clones were collected and analyzed. 20 SSR markers were used for characterization. The cluster analyses revealed 71 genotypes clearly demonstrating Armenia’s rich diversity of local aboriginal grape varieties. The study also highlights a number of cases of synonymy, homonymy and misnaming. New genotypes were also identified. Field surveys, genetic characterization and ampelographic description of endangered varieties, wild forms, as well as observation of grapes growing in old, abandoned vineyards combined with the establishment of field collections are becoming essential tools in documenting grapevine germplasm and developing plans to preserve it and minimize an irreversible loss of genetic diversity.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this research was provided by a University of Connecticut Research Excellence grant awarded to Alexia Smith; Armenian National Science and Education Fund Grants 3616 and 4271 awarded to Nelli Hovhannisyan, and the Gfoeller Renaissance Foundation. We are very grateful to all of the farmers and informants who participated in this study for sharing their detailed traditional knowledge of grape use and for providing plant samples. We are also grateful to the Armenian ampelographic collection staff at the Scientific Center of Viticulture, Fruit-Growing and Wine-Making of the Armenian National Agrarian University for their help and support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian Str., Yerevan, Armenia

    Syuzanna Esoyan

  2. Department of Ecology and Nature Protection, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian Str., Yerevan, Armenia

    Nelli Hovhannisyan

  3. Center of Excellence in Applied Biosciences, Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian Str., Yerevan, Armenia

    Marina Dallakyan, Syuzanna Esoyan & Nelli Hovhannisyan

  4. Department of Anthropology, University of Connecticut, Beach Hall, 354 Mansfield Road, Unit 1176, Storrs, CT, 06269-1176, USA

    Alexia Smith

  5. Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, 15 Charents Str., 0025, Yerevan, Armenia

    Boris Gasparyan

  6. Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Marina Dallakyan

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  1. Marina Dallakyan
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  2. Syuzanna Esoyan
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  5. Nelli Hovhannisyan
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Correspondence to Nelli Hovhannisyan.

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Dallakyan, M., Esoyan, S., Gasparyan, B. et al. Genetic diversity and traditional uses of aboriginal grape (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties from the main viticultural regions of Armenia. Genet Resour Crop Evol 67, 999–1024 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-00897-5

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