Genetic study of grapevine varieties using molecular markers

Abstract

RAPD and microsatellites were used in the present study as molecular markers for identification and discrimination of grapevine material and for comparison between the two methods. Thirty random decamer primers of arbitrary nucleotide were used to amplify genomic DNA through the polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) in order to identify and discriminate 28 greek and foreign grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in Greece and to determine the genetic similarities among these cultivars. More than 400 reproducible polymorphic fragments were generated with this method. Herefrom, the degree of genetic similarity was calculated and the dendrogram of the 28 studied cultivars was constructed. Thereafter, eight random microsatellite primers were used to amplify genomic DNA through the polymerase chain reaction (SSR analysis) for the same 28 cultivars, but the reproducible fragments of the primers used showed low discriminating ability. Evidently, for the SSR analysis is required further research with the use of a larger number of primers.