We elucidate grapevine evolution and domestication histories with 3525 cultivated and wild accessions worldwide. In the Pleistocene, harsh climate drove the separation of wild grape ecotypes caused by continuous habitat fragmentation. Then, domestication occurred concurrently about 11,000 years ago in Western Asia and the Caucasus to yield table and wine grapevines. The Western Asia domesticates dispersed into Europe with early farmers, introgressed with ancient wild western ecotypes, and subsequently diversified along human migration trails into muscat and unique western wine grape ancestries by the late Neolithic. Analyses of domestication traits also reveal new insights into selection for berry palatability, hermaphroditism, muscat flavor, and berry skin color. These data demonstrate the role of the grapevines in the early inception of agriculture across Eurasia.

The present study is the first in-depth research evaluating the genetic diversity and potential resistance of Armenian wild grapes utilizing DNA-based markers to understand the genetic signature of this unexplored germplasm. In the proposed research, five geographical regions with known viticultural history were explored. A total of 148 unique wild genotypes were collected and included in the study with 48 wild individuals previously collected as seed. A total of 24 nSSR markers were utilized to establish a fingerprint database to infer information on the population genetic diversity and structure. Three nSSR markers linked to the Ren1 locus were analyzed to identify potential resistance against powdery mildew. According to molecular fingerprinting data, the Armenian V. sylvestris gene pool conserves a high genetic diversity, displaying 292 different alleles with 12.167 allele per loci. The clustering analyses and diversity parameters supported eight genetic groups with 5.6% admixed proportion. The study of genetic polymorphism at the Ren1 locus revealed that 28 wild genotypes carried three R-alleles and 34 wild genotypes carried two R-alleles associated with PM resistance among analyzed 107 wild individuals. This gene pool richness represents an immense reservoir of under-explored genetic diversity and breeding potential. Therefore, continued survey and research efforts are crucial for the conservation, sustainable management, and utilization of Armenian wild grape resources in the face of emerging challenges in viticulture.

Armenia is an important country of origin of cultivated Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera and wild Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris and has played a key role in the long history of grape cultivation in the Southern Caucasus. The existence of immense grapevine biodiversity in a small territory is strongly linked with unique relief and diverse climate conditions assembled with millennium-lasting cultural and historical context. In the present in-depth study using 25 nSSR markers, 492 samples collected in old vineyards, home gardens, and private collections were genotyped. For verification of cultivar identity, the symbiotic approach combining genotypic and phenotypic characterization for each genotype was carried out. The study provided 221 unique varieties, including 5 mutants, from which 66 were widely grown, neglected or minor autochthonous grapevine varieties, 49 turned out to be new bred cultivars created within the national breeding programs mainly during Soviet Era and 34 were non-Armenian varieties with different countries of origin. No references and corresponding genetic profiles existed for 67 genotypes. Parentage analysis was performed inferring 62 trios with 53 out of them having not been previously reported and 185 half-kinships. Instability of grapevine cultivars was detected, showing allelic variants, with three and in rare cases four alleles at one loci. Obtained results have great importance and revealed that Armenia conserved an extensive grape genetic diversity despite geographical isolation and low material exchange. This gene pool richness represents a huge reservoir of under-explored genetic diversity.

Background: Whole-genome studies of vine cultivars have brought novel knowledge about the diversity, geographical relatedness, historical origin and dissemination, phenotype associations and genetic markers. Method: We applied SOM (self-organizing maps) portrayal, a neural network-based machine learning method, to re-analyze the genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data of nearly eight hundred grapevine cultivars. The method generates genome-specific data landscapes. Their topology reflects the geographical distribution of cultivars, indicates paths of cultivar dissemination in history and genome-phenotype associations about grape utilization. Results: The landscape of vine genomes resembles the geographic map of the Mediterranean world, reflecting two major dissemination paths from South Caucasus along a northern route via Balkan towards Western Europe and along a southern route via Palestine and Maghreb towards Iberian Peninsula. The Mediterranean and Black Sea, as well as the Pyrenees, constitute barriers for genetic exchange. On the coarsest level of stratification, cultivars divide into three major groups: Western Europe and Italian grapes, Iberian grapes and vine cultivars from Near East and Maghreb regions. Genetic landmarks were associated with agronomic traits, referring to their utilization as table and wine grapes. Pseudotime analysis describes the dissemination of grapevines in an East to West direction in different waves of cultivation. Conclusion: In analogy to the tasks of the wine waiter in gastronomy, the sommelier, our ‘SOMmelier’-approach supports understanding the diversity of grapevine genomes in the context of their geographic and historical background, using SOM portrayal. It offers an option to supplement vine cultivar passports by genome fingerprint portraits.

The South Caucasus region, including Armenia, is recognized as a center of early viticulture, home to the oldest known winery and a rich tradition of winem

The South Caucasus is recognized as one of the primary centres of grapevine domestication and harbours an extraordinary wealth of wild and cultivated grapevine diversity. Understanding the genetic structure and relationships of this germplasm is essential both for conservation and for the valorisation of local varieties in viticulture, wine making and breeding. The objectives of the present study consisted of the exploration of grape genetic diversity and the investigation of genetic relationships existing in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Germplasm studied included 425 non-redundant accessions, genotyped using 24 nSSR-markers, from these three countries and from Western to Eastern Europe. The total sample set included 366 Vitis vinifera subsp. sativa varieties, 50 Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris individuals and 9 interspecific crosses. A Bayesian clustering analysis and diversity parameters revealed that Armenia and Azerbaijan share a common gene pool, whereas the Georgian gene pool is mainly independent, with few intermixes. First-order parentage analysis identified 208 first-degree relationships with 196 grape varieties (46%) being involved, while 231 genotypes (54%), respectively 180 (42%) sativa and 51 (12%) sylvestris did not show any genetic relatedness. Two reconstructed genetic profiles are proposed, suggesting that these are likely key ancestors within the Georgian gene pool. This treasure of genetic diversity from one of the cradles of wine culture holds immense potential for research and breeding with an unique cultural-historical background. Therefore, further surveys and research are essential for the conservation, sustainable management, and utilization of the grapevine genetic biodiversity of the South Caucasus.