Genotyping Vitis vinifera L. cultivars of Cyprus by microsatellite analysis

Twelve native Vitis vinifera L. cultivars of Cyprus were genotyped at 11 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. The obtained microsatellite allelic profiles allowed precise identification and discrimination of all tested cultivars. Each cultivar had a unique allelic profile. The low PI value (5.1 x 10-9) demonstrated the high descriptive power of the chosen markers for the investigated set of grapevines. Three cases of synonymy of Cyprus cultivars with cultivars grown in other countries under different names were verified: (1) Cyprus Malaga and Muscat of Alexandria, (2) Cyprus Lefkas and Greek Verdzami, and (3) Cyprus Moscato, Bulgarian Tamyanka and Italian Moscato Bianco. The homonymy of Cyprus Sideritis and Greek Sideritis as well as of Cyprus Mavro and Bulgarian Mavrud was shown not to rely on genetic similarity.

Genotyping of Bulgarian Vitis vinifera L. cultivars by microsatellite analysis

A 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 ofTamyanka, Italian Moscato Bianco and Greek Moschato Kerkyras andPamid 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.

Genetic diversity in native Bulgarian grapevine germplasm (Vitis vinifera L.) based on nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite polymorphisms

Fifty one wild specimens collected in different areas in Bulgaria and nineteen native Bulgarian grapevine cultivars were genotyped with 7 nuclear and 5 chloroplast SSR markers. Based on the microsatellite allelic profile six wild samples, collected from the Danube Riverbank, were considered non vinifera genotypes. The genetic diversity for nuclear loci observed in the cultivated grapevines was comparable to that found in other cultivated collections. However, lower genetic diversity was observed in the set of wild samples. The dendrogram based on nuclear SSRs separated most of the cultivated grapevines from the wild samples. Four chlorotypes corresponding to previously determined chlorotypes A, B, C and D, were identified in the analyzed samples that occurred with different frequencies in groups of wild and cultivated plants. The most frequent chlorotype among wild samples was A, while it was C in the cultivated samples. The differentiation of Bulgarian grape chlorotypes in the context of differentiation of chlorotypes in Eurasian grape flora is discussed.

Cytological and molecular evidence of deletion of ribosomal RNA genes in chromosome 6 of barley (Hordeum vulgare)

The barley chromosomal mutant T-35, in which only one pair of satellite chromosomes is apparent, was analyzed using a range of cytological and molecular techniques. Using conventional Feulgen staining, Giemsa and silver banding, in situ hybridization, and Southern blot analysis, unequivocal cytological and molecular evidence was obtained that T-35 is a homozygous deletion of rRNA genes residing in the nucleolus organizer region (NOR) of chromosome 6. According to the criteria of arm ratio and Giemsa-banding pattern of this chromosome, the deletion involved the whole NOR, one of the breakpoints being localized in the short arm proximally to the NOR-associated heterochromatic band, the other probably in the satellite of the chromosome. As a result of this deletion, an increased activity of the rRNA genes (as indicated by the size of the silver bands) on the other NOR-bearing chromosome (chromosome 7) was observed. The possible reasons for this phenomenon are discussed

Genetic diversity in native Bulgarian grapevine germplasm (Vitis vinifera L.) based on nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite polymorphisms

Fifty one wild specimens collected in different areas in Bulgaria and nineteen native Bulgarian grapevine cultivars were genotyped with 7 nuclear and 5 chloroplast SSR markers. Based on the microsatellite allelic profile six wild samples, collected from the Danube Riverbank, were considered non vinifera genotypes. The genetic diversity for nuclear loci observed in the cultivated grapevines was comparable to that found in other cultivated collections. However, lower genetic diversity was observed in the set of wild samples. The dendrogram based on nuclear SSRs separated most of the cultivated grapevines from the wild samples. Four chlorotypes corresponding to previously determined chlorotypes A, B, C and D, were identified in the analyzed samples that occurred with different frequencies in groups of wild and cultivated plants. The most frequent chlorotype among wild samples was A, while it was C in the cultivated samples. The differentiation of Bulgarian grape chlorotypes in the context of differentiation of chlorotypes in Eurasian grape flora is discussedThis research was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science, National Scientific Program “Genomics”, project №: G-5-01/2003.Peer reviewe