The South Caucasus is recognised as the primary Vitis vinifera L. (grapevine) domestication centre and has a high diversity of wild and cultivated grapevines. Archaeological findings indicate that winemaking activities have existed in Armenia for more than 6,000 years, viticulture being one of the most important activities of the modern Armenian agricultural sector. Despite this relevance, some grapevines in local collections have not yet been properly identified, thus hindering the efficient conservation, characterisation and eventual use of autochthonous genetic resources. In the present study, a combined SNP and SSR profiling strategy was used for the genetic identification of a series of grapevine accessions from the Grape Collection of the International Academy of Viticulture and Winemaking in Nalbandyan, presumed to be autochthonous Armenian varieties. The results provided useful information for the correct identification of these genetic resources, revealing multiple cases of synonyms, homonyms and misnames. The genetic data made it possible to confirm the pedigree proposed for some of the cultivars identified in this study and to clarify the origin of others. In addition, we propose, for the first time, a series of new trios and duos involving autochthonous Armenian grapevines. The singularity of this genetic pool compared to other Western and Central European varieties, as well as the potential novel sources of variability in traits of interest (e.g., seedlessness) that were found, highlight the importance of improving knowledge of the Armenian grapevine genetic pool.

Grapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV) is a member of the genus Trichovirus in the family Betaflexiviridae. It was first described on Italian grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Pinot gris in which it pro...

Characterizing plant genetic resources and understanding the domestication process are key challenges in horticulture. This study focuses on the common grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), employing molecular, ampelographic, and morphometric techniques to explore its domestication syndrome. We propose a combined domestication index for grape seeds, integrating six commonly used indices. Logistic regression and randomForest machine learning methods were employed to assess the probability of seed domestication. Analysis involved 4029 seeds from 783 samples, spanning live plants (cultivated, wild, feral), archaeological samples, and fossils. Results indicate a distinct domestication syndrome in grapevine seeds, notably characterized by a long stalk (> 1 mm), with combined index values ranging from 0.83 to 1 and domestication probabilities of 0.75 to 1. This syndrome is prevalent in modern cultivars but absent in wild grapevines, aiding in the differentiation of archaeological materials. While not exclusive to Vitis vinifera, the domestication syndrome is characteristic of it, distinguishing it from wild Vitis sylvestris and suggesting isolated domestication events in a few American and Asian Vitis species. Fossil and archaeological materials exhibit low domestication values, hinting at the beginnings of domestication. However, dating reliability remains a challenge.

By exploring seed samples from vineyards and natural habitats across the Eurasian range of Vitis vinifera, our analysis revealed substantial morphological variation within populations. Through the analysis of domestication index values, probabilities, and entropy, we assessed seed diversity. Samples with high domestication probability values—predominantly from vineyards—exhibited low heterogeneity and entropy, with similar patterns observed in natural habitats, suggesting the presence of feral vines. In parallel, seeds with low domestication index values, found mainly in natural habitats, also displayed low entropy and are likely associated with Vitis sylvestris or other wild Vitaceae species. Intermediate domestication values pointed to hybrid swarms, highlighting the crucial role of hybridization in the development of modern grapevine cultivars. The study identified mixed populations across the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and the South Caucasus, which act as significant gene reservoirs. A domestication gradient is evident, with higher domestication rates in the South Caucasus compared to Western Europe and East Asia. The results demonstrate the significance of these mixed populations as repositories of genetic diversity, underscoring their conservation value, particularly considering the negative impact of habitat alterations, especially in riparian forests due to major public works.

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