conference schedule and program with abstracts - Horticulture ...

O-47
Intravarietal variability of Crljenak kastelanski and its relationship with Zinfandel and
Primitivo selections
Z. Goran 1 , S. Šimon 2 , E. Maletić 2 , I. Budić-Leto 1 , J.K. Kontić 2 , I. Pejić 2 *
1 Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Split, Croatia; 2 University of Zagreb,
Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, Croatia
*Corresponding author: ipejic@agr.hr
Recently, it has been shown that Zinfandel, Primitivo and Crljenak kastelanski (CK) share
identical SSR genotype so they can be considered the same variety. Zinfandel is one of the
leading varieties in California. Primitivo has a similar role in the south of Italy, while in Croatia
CK is an old, almost extinct and forgotten variety, but lately looked at with regained interest. The
possibility of planting new vineyards with healthy clone material selected in California and Italy
seems like an easy way of improving the domestic cultivation. On the other hand, the genetic
value of the remaining vines of CK could be highly valuable since they represent an old genetic
source of this variety exposed to particular selection pressure. If it exists, genetic variability
among Zinfandel, Primitivo and CK selections might lead to the production of different types of
their winesWith the aim of preserving and characterizing the remaining vines of CK in Croatia,
cuttings from 14 individual CK vines were propagated into a germplasm collection along with
Zinfandel clone 01 and Primitivo clone 03, obtained from the FPS, UC Davis, and three
selections of Primitivo originating from Italy (clones UBA47A and UBA55A, University of
Bari) and one CAC material from Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo). All investigated accessions were
analyzed using a set of six SSR loci in order to check the identity of the genotype, as well as
IRAP, REMAP and AFLP markers to assess intravarietal variability. Viticultural performance of
all accessions was evaluated in 2008 and 2009 and also the polyphenolic content in skins and
seeds was analyzed. The SSR analysis confirmed the uniform genotype and monozygotic status
of all accessions. Preliminary ampelographic analysis among the all accessions showed superior
results of CK and Primitivo which were also more alike to each other, compared to Zinfandel.
Polyphenolic content of skin and seeds of some CK selections was significantly greater than in
other selections. Further research is necessary to eliminate viral infections from the selections of
CK, which could partly be responsible for the differences observed. Limited analysis of genetic
diversity using molecular markers did not reveal significant polymorphism or logical grouping
among selections.
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