Testing different methods of grape seed germination

Research Not

The World’s oldest living grapevine specimen and its genetic relationships

The Old Vine from Lent (Maribor, Slovenia) which belongs to the ‘Modra Kavčina’ group (i.e. ‘Blauer Kölner’ in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue and ‘Žametovka’ in the official varietal list of Slovenia) is considered to be the oldest living specimen of cultivated grapevine (at least 400 years old). The aim of our study was to determine the genetic relationships among different accessions of the ‘Žametovka’ group, the position the Old Vine within this group, and the relationship between the Old Vine and other red varieties grown in Slovenia and neighbouring countries. The molecular genetic analysis was based on microsatellite data. The study shows that the ‘Žametovka’ group is genetically completely different from other red varieties studied. Among these genetically distant varieties, in our study, ‘Chasselas red’ appears to be the closest. The ‘Žametovka’ group is genetically highly homogenous, and half of the studied accessions probably belong to the same clone. The ‘Old vine’ cannot be considered as a significantly different genotype. The minor differences detected by microsatellite markers are probably due to mutations accumulated over a long period of time and possibly to epigenetic changes.

Age, microfacies and depositional environment of the Middle to Late Paleocene shallow-marine carbonates in the Sirt Basin of Libya (Upper Sabil Formation) : "Are Intisar domal structures pinnacle reefs?"

In the central-eastern Sirt Basin, enigmatic Intisar domal structures host significant hydrocarbon accumulations. These structures have been commonly interpreted as pinnacle reefs/bioherms occurring in the open-marine basinal environment. Generally, pinnacle reefs/bioherms are mainly characterized by in situ carbonates. The current study challenges the Intisar pinnacle reef/bioherm model by examining one of the domal structures in terms of biostratigraphy, microfacies and depositional environment. These structures were dated using larger benthic foraminifera, which yielded a Middle to Late Paleocene age (Selandian–Early Thanetian). Thirteen microfacies types representing different carbonate ramp environments ranging from outer ramp to inner ramp, were defined. Outer ramp deposits have been observed adjacent to the domal structure, represented mainly by wackestone with small benthic and planktonic foraminifera. The outer ramp deposits are most likely isochronous to the domal structures. The lower part of the domal structures is composed mainly of foraminiferal–algal–echinodermal packstones. The upper part is characterized by foraminiferal–algal–echinodermal packstones with intercalated microbialite–coral boundstones. The euphotic inner ramp deposits are preserved on the crest of the domal structure, consisting of grainstone and packstone rich in Glomalveolina. As a result of this study, the Intisar domal structures are seen as erosional relics of a carbonate ramp and no evidence for pinnacle reef/bioherm model was found

Shifts in climate suitability for wine production as a result of climate change in a temperate climate wine region of Romania

International audienc

Climate change trends, grape production, and potential alcohol concentration in wine from the "Romagna Sangiovese" appellation area (Italy)

The trend of climate change and its effect on grape production and wine composition was evaluated using a real case study of seven wineries located in the \u201cRomagna Sangiovese\u201d appellation area (northern Italy), one of the most important wine producing region of Italy. This preliminary study focused on three key aspects: (i) Assessment of climate change trends by calculating bioclimatic indices over the last 61 years (from 1953 to 2013) in the Romagna Sangiovese area: significant increasing trends were found for the maximum, mean, and minimum daily temperatures, while a decreasing trend was found for precipitation during the growing season period (April\u2013October). Mean growing season temperature was 18.49 \ub0C, considered as warm days in the Romagna Sangiovese area and optimal for vegetative growth of Sangiovese, while nights during the ripening months were cold (13.66 \ub0C). The rise of temperature shifted studied area from the temperate/warm temperate to the warm temperate-/warm grape-growing region (according to the Huglin classification). (ii) Relation between the potential alcohol content from seven wineries and the climate change from 2001 to 2012: dry spell index (DSI) and Huglin index (HI) suggested a large contribution to increasing level of potential alcohol in Sangiovese wines, whereas DSI showed higher correlation with potential alcohol respect to the HI. (iii) Relation between grape production and the climate change from 1982 to 2012: a significant increasing trend was found with little effect of the climate change trends estimated with used bioclimatic indices. Practical implication at viticultural and oenological levels is discussed