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Wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris) in the Hyrcanian relict forests of northern Iran: an overview of current taxonomy, ecology and palaeorecords

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Abstract

Due to severe anthropogenic impacts on lowland and submontane zones of the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran, wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris), a sporadically distributed woody liana, is currently considered an endangered species. Using data from the literature and 34 studied populations, herbarium assessments and nine palynological sites, we provide an overview of its taxonomy, distribution and ecology in the first part of the investigation. The separation of the two subspecies, namely V. sylvestris subsp. anebophylla and V. sylvestris subsp. trichophylla (sensu Flora Iranica), based on their leaf indumentums, could not be confirmed by our examination of herbarium materials and field observations. Indumentum of the leaves is a result of leaf polymorphism in different Vitis specimens and can be strongly influenced by environmental conditions. Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris grows in a wide range of habitats including wetlands, seasonal stream sides in closed forests, alluvial beds of large rivers, sand dune shrublands and forested wetlands (alder forests). Parrotia persica and Carpinus betulus were the most frequent host species in the studied populations. In the Hyrcanian region, no pollen record of Vitis older than the Mid-or Late-Holocene has yet been established. Despite the intrinsic problem in pollen identification by normal (i.e., light) microscopy of wild from cultivated grapevines, the significant values and persistent occurrence of Vitis pollen since the Mid-Holocene (before the Bronze Age) in the Hyrcanian pollen records may imply the onset of viticulture in low- to mid-elevation sites in the region. This represents an argument to consider the Hyrcanian region as a possible domestication center for V. vinifera. However, the question of wild versus cultivated origin of grapevines in the Hyrcanian pollen records and the possible date of its domestication and/or cultivation will remain open until further palynological studies are undertaken.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Centre for International Scientific Studies and Collaboration (CISSC) and the French Embassy in Tehran under the “Gundishapour” project. We thank Pierre Lhote of the French Embassy for his encouragement during the study, and Nicolas Fumeaux (Geneva), Florian Jabbour (Paris) and Caroline Loupe (Montpellier) for their herbarium assistance. We also thank V. Kheirabadi and M. Madadi and other staff of the Golestan Nationa Park, R. Esmailnejad, Astaneh Ashrafieh, M. Naseri, Asalem, for all their support during field studies. This study was carried out with permission from the Department of Environment for the Golestan National Park and the Miankaleh Biosphere Reserve under permission 93/10330, and by the protection of the Department of Forestry, Gorgan University for the Shastkola forest under permission 93/24/17431.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Mazandaran, Iran

    Alireza Naqinezhad

  2. Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

    Elias Ramezani

  3. Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie (IMBE, UMR 7263, CNRS-Aix Marseille Université-IRD-Université d’Avignon), Europôle méditerranéen de l‘Arbois, bâtiment Villemin, BP80, 13545, Aix-En-Provence Cedex 04, France

    Morteza Djamali

  4. Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Environnements Continentaux LIEC - UMR 7360, CNRS, University of Lorraine, Metz, France

    Annik Schnitzler

  5. University of Lausanne, Unicentre, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Claire Arnold

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  1. Alireza Naqinezhad
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Correspondence to Alireza Naqinezhad.

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Project Funding: This research was supported by the Centre for International Scientific Studies and Collaboration (CISSC) and the French Embassy in Tehran under the “Gundishapour” project.

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Naqinezhad, A., Ramezani, E., Djamali, M. et al. Wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris) in the Hyrcanian relict forests of northern Iran: an overview of current taxonomy, ecology and palaeorecords. J. For. Res. 29, 1757–1768 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-017-0549-6

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