Ampelometric evaluation of wild grape (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) accessions in the germplasm collection of FEM-IASMA, Italy

In this paper, 45 wild grapevine accessions collected during two consecutive years were compared for 36 ampelometric traits using digital image analysis. The sample set contained male and female individuals from different geographic regions: Germany, North Italy, Central Italy, South Italy, Sardinia and Turkey. The leaf morphological data from the collected samples suggest that geographic origin, gender and vintage could have an effect on ampelometric traits in this species

The effect of cluster thinning, cluster tipping, cluster shredding and defoliation at the flowering on the vegetative and generative vine performance from Kékfrankos Cv.

The cluster thinning is a method of the yield regulation.With the removal one part of the clusters, the yield pro leaf area will be lower, hereby the grape and wine quality will be improved. The regulation of the yield can lead to further advantages: the ratio of the vegetative and generative performance of the vines will improve, the condition of the plants will better, the number of the physiological diseases can be reduced and the growth of the shoots and roots can be promoted. The grape growers make the cluster thinning almost exclusive by creating one cluster shoots. Usually the upper clusters are removed, because the sugar content of these second or third clusters will be lower. The cluster thinning is an easy task, can be done without special skills. It is an effective method improving wine quality, but its use can lead to other problems. The grapes try to compensate the removed clusters. Therefore the clusters will be bigger and thicker, but more sensitive to bunch rot. Moreover the treatment is expensive, because it needs manual work. It is worth to get acquainted and try the new yield regulation methods, which can help to avoid the occurring problems. Our aim is to show the results of our experiment, which was carried out in Eger, examining the red grape cultivar Kékfrankos. During our 4 years long experiment we compared the effects of cluster thinning, cluster shredding, cluster tipping and defoliation at the flowering, on the vegetative and generative vine performance

A complex system for the production of pathogen-free grapevine propagating material

The use of pathogen-free planting stock for new vineyard establishment is a key component in the maintenance and expansion of vine and quality table grape production. The success of the necessary changes in the structure of the grape industry is forced by the globalization process, the climate change, the rediscovery of autochton varieties as well as breeding of new tolerant and resistant varieties. The renewal of vineyards largely depend on the availability of planting stocks. Serbia and Hungary found a common interest in establishing pathogen-free stock materials from newly breed resistant varieties and clonal selections of varieties which are traditional in the Serbian-Hungarian border area. During a cross-border cooperation program a complex system for the production of pathogen-free grapevine propagating material was established. Using heat therapy, in vitro shoot tip culture and traditional and molecular diagnostic techniques new pathogen-free stock materials were established from 26 varieties. They have been or will be tested for the presence of most important grapevine viruses, phytoplasmas, as well as bacterial and fungal pathogens. The complex system applying green grafting for indexing on grapevine indicators can shorten the duration of the procedure from 4 years to two-three years

A complex system for the production of pathogen-free grapevine propagating material

The use of pathogen-free planting stock for new vineyard establishment is a key component in the maintenance and expansion ofvine and quality table grape production. The success of the necessary changes in the structure of the grape industry is forced by theglobalization process, the climate change, the rediscovery of autochton varieties as well as breeding of new tolerant and resistant varieties.The renewal of vineyards largely depend on the availability of planting stocks. Serbia and Hungary found a common interest in establishingpathogen-free stock materials from newly breed resistant varieties and clonal selections of varieties which are traditional in the Serbian-Hungarian border area. During a cross-border cooperation program a complex system for the production of pathogen-free grapevinepropagating material was established. Using heat therapy, in vitro shoot tip culture and traditional and molecular diagnostic techniques newpathogen-free stock materials were established from 26 varieties. They have been or will be tested for the presence of most importantgrapevine viruses, phytoplasmas, as well as bacterial and fungal pathogens. The complex system applying green grafting for indexing ongrapevine indicators can shorten the duration of the procedure from 4 years to two-three years

Conservation value of the native Hungarian wild grape (Vitis sylvestris Gmel.) evaluated by microsatellite markers

Wild grape (Vitis sylvestris GMEL.) has became a highly threatened species in Europe because of habitat loss, competition with alien grape species and intensive forest exploitation. Twenty-three Vitis spp. samples were analysed at 8 microsatellite loci to estimate the genetic diversity of the natural Vitis sylvestris specimens. In order to analyse the morphological traits and to perform molecular analysis, 11 native individuals were sampled from 6 remnant Hungarian habitats of the wild grape. To compare the genetic relationships among the wild specimens, samples from Turkish habitats, as well as cultivars of Vitis vinifera, Vitis labrusca and Vitis riparia were also included. Genetic diversity was higher within the Hungarian wild grape locations, with a mean of He = 0.74, which was higher that of samples originating from a larger area of Turkey, He = 0.69. Most of the Hungarian samples formed a well-defined, separate branch on the NJ tree. Based on the morphological traits and molecular analysis on the territory of Szentendre Island, formerly considered to be one of the largest native locations of wild grape, interspecific hybrids of Vitis sylvestris and Vitis riparia were identified. It can be concluded from the results that most of the Hungarian habitats studied could be valuable for the conservation. This paper reports on Hungarian Vitis sylvestris habitats, providing the first genetic study on diversity and on the relationship of Vitis sylvestris to other Vitis specimens, wild or cultivated, in the central part of the Carpathian Basin

Examinations of 600-year-old seeds by means of archaeobotanical and genetical methods

About 600-year-old plant seeds were discovered in a well of a mediaeval cellar in the course of an excavation in Budapest. After the archaeobotanic purification seed of 16 species were found in large quantities. Seeds preserved in the best state were selected from each group. The existence of endosperm was analysed in these subfossils, which turned to be successful mainly in the case of grapes (Vitis vinifera) and cornels (Cornus mas). Seeds of these two species contained the most endosperm and remains of the embryo. DNA was extracted with the help of DNEasy Plant Mini Kit and analysed by RAPD-PCR method. The amplification of DNA extracted from cornel seeds resulted in detecting a 1500 by fragment, which makes the comparison of these samples with present-day cornels possible

Examinations of 600-year-old seeds by means of archaeobotanical and genetical methods

About 600-year-old plant seeds were discovered in a well of a mediaeval cellar in the course of an excavation in Budapest. After the archaeobotanic purification seed of 16 species were found in large quantities. Seeds preserved in the best state were selected from each group. The existence of endosperm was analysed in these subfossils, which turned to be successful mainly in the case of grapes (Vitis vinifera) and cornels (Cornus mas). Seeds of these two species contained the most endosperm and remains of the embryo. DNA was extracted with the help of DNEasy Plant Mini Kit and analysed by RAPD-PCR method. The amplification of DNA extracted from cornel seeds resulted in detecting a 1500 by fragment, which makes the comparison of these samples with present-day cornels possible

Actual state of research concerning vitamin C as reflected in the literature (Review article)

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) being essential for many living organisms, including man, became once more into the focus of interests because of its numerous physiological effects. Its anti-scurvy and anti-oxidant properties have already been recognised since long in the human body, but it turned out gradually that it has many other functions. In plants, its primary importance is defense against the photo-oxidative stress. The present review is intended to reveal some details of the artificial synthesis of vitamin C. Emphasis is put on the metabolism of L-ascorbic acid in higher plants. Biosynthetic processes, translocation and accumulation are discussed in detail on the basis of recent results published in the scientific literature

Actual state of research concerning vitamin C as reflected in the literature (Review article)

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) being essential for many living organisms, including man, became once more into the focus of interests because of its numerous physiological effects. Its anti-scurvy and anti-oxidant properties have already been recognised since long in the human body, but it turned out gradually that it has many other functions. In plants, its primary importance is defense against the photo-oxidative stress. The present review is intended to reveal some details of the artificial synthesis of vitamin C. Emphasis is put on the metabolism of L-ascorbic acid in higher plants. Biosynthetic processes, translocation and accumulation are discussed in detail on the basis of recent results published in the scientific literature