Innovation in traditional vine cultivars based on somatic variation: a case study in Tempranillo

Evolution of plant material in viticulture has traditionally relied on the phenotypic variationgenerated by spontaneous somatic mutations. This variation has long contributed to cultivar adaptationunder changing environmental conditions and has also been a source of novel traits and cultivars. Newphenotypic and genomic technologies offer now possibilities to increase the efficiency of this selectionprocess that can have an impact on classical cultivar innovation. In this report we describe the value ofsomatic variation in the innovation of traditional cultivars. Specifically, we focus on a successful examplein Tempranillo that ended in the new white-berried variety Tempranillo Blanco. Here we describe thehistory of this new variety, its particular features, its genetic origin, as well as all the information generatedby its genome sequence that helps understanding possible varietal viticultural issues and improvementstrategies. In addition, we shortly mention other grape color Tempranillo variants under study that couldbe the basis to generate additional new clones and cultivars