The Status of Wild Grapevine (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) Populations in Georgia (South Caucasus)
Repeated expeditions across various regions of Georgia in the early 2000s led to the identification of 434 wild grapevine individuals (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) across 127 different sites, with 45% of these sites containing only a si...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Gabriele Cola Gabriella De Lorenzis Osvaldo Failla Nikoloz Kvaliashvili Shengeli Kikilashvili Maia Kikvadze Londa Mamasakhlisashvili Irma Mdinaradze Ramaz Chipashvili David Maghradze |
| author_facet | Gabriele Cola Gabriella De Lorenzis Osvaldo Failla Nikoloz Kvaliashvili Shengeli Kikilashvili Maia Kikvadze Londa Mamasakhlisashvili Irma Mdinaradze Ramaz Chipashvili David Maghradze |
| author_sort | Gabriele Cola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Repeated expeditions across various regions of Georgia in the early 2000s led to the identification of 434 wild grapevine individuals (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) across 127 different sites, with 45% of these sites containing only a single vine and only 7% more than 9 vines. A total of 70 accessions were propagated in a germplasm collection, 41 of them were descripted from the ampelographic point of view and 32 from the phenological one. The geographical and ecological analysis confirmed that wild grapevines primarily grow in humid environments with warm and fully humid climates, often near rivers. They favor deep, fertile, and evolved soils, mainly alluvial and cinnamonic types (80%), with a marginal presence on strongly eroded soils. Their main natural vegetations are forests and open woodlands, with some individuals in the Southeast found in steppes. The altitudinal range spans from 0 to 1200 m, with 80% of vines distributed between 400 and 900 m. The phenological analysis revealed significant differences among the accessions but no difference among populations, with only a slight variation in bud-break timing, indicating a high level of synchronicity overall. Flowering timing proved to be the most uniform stage, suggesting minimal environmental pressure on genetic adaptation. The mature leaf morphology exhibited significant polymorphism, though leaves were generally three- or five-lobed, weak-wrinkling, and -blistering, with a low density of hairs. Bunch and berry morphology were more uniform. Bunches were consistently very small, cylindrical, and never dense or winged. Berries were also very small, mostly globular, always blue-black in color, and non-aromatic. A striking feature was the frequency of red flesh coloration, which ranged from weak to strong, with uncolored flesh being rare. The Georgian population of wild grapevines was found to be fragmented, often consisting of scattered single individuals or small groups. Therefore, we believe it is urgent for Georgia to implement specific protection measures to preserve this vital genetic resource. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6bafbd7edb0d4cc7b0360cddb1bbeef4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-6bafbd7edb0d4cc7b0360cddb1bbeef42025-01-24T13:46:52ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-01-0114223210.3390/plants14020232The Status of Wild Grapevine (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) Populations in Georgia (South Caucasus)Gabriele Cola0Gabriella De Lorenzis1Osvaldo Failla2Nikoloz Kvaliashvili3Shengeli Kikilashvili4Maia Kikvadze5Londa Mamasakhlisashvili6Irma Mdinaradze7Ramaz Chipashvili8David Maghradze9Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milano, ItalyNational Wine Agency of Georgia, Tbilisi 0159, GeorgiaFaculty of Viticulture-Winemaking, Caucasus International University (CIU), Tbilisi 0141, GeorgiaFaculty of Viticulture-Winemaking, Caucasus International University (CIU), Tbilisi 0141, GeorgiaScientific-Research Center of Agriculture, Tbilisi 0159, GeorgiaNational Wine Agency of Georgia, Tbilisi 0159, GeorgiaKakha Bendukidze University Campus, Agricultural University of Georgia, Tbilisi 0159, GeorgiaNational Wine Agency of Georgia, Tbilisi 0159, GeorgiaRepeated expeditions across various regions of Georgia in the early 2000s led to the identification of 434 wild grapevine individuals (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) across 127 different sites, with 45% of these sites containing only a single vine and only 7% more than 9 vines. A total of 70 accessions were propagated in a germplasm collection, 41 of them were descripted from the ampelographic point of view and 32 from the phenological one. The geographical and ecological analysis confirmed that wild grapevines primarily grow in humid environments with warm and fully humid climates, often near rivers. They favor deep, fertile, and evolved soils, mainly alluvial and cinnamonic types (80%), with a marginal presence on strongly eroded soils. Their main natural vegetations are forests and open woodlands, with some individuals in the Southeast found in steppes. The altitudinal range spans from 0 to 1200 m, with 80% of vines distributed between 400 and 900 m. The phenological analysis revealed significant differences among the accessions but no difference among populations, with only a slight variation in bud-break timing, indicating a high level of synchronicity overall. Flowering timing proved to be the most uniform stage, suggesting minimal environmental pressure on genetic adaptation. The mature leaf morphology exhibited significant polymorphism, though leaves were generally three- or five-lobed, weak-wrinkling, and -blistering, with a low density of hairs. Bunch and berry morphology were more uniform. Bunches were consistently very small, cylindrical, and never dense or winged. Berries were also very small, mostly globular, always blue-black in color, and non-aromatic. A striking feature was the frequency of red flesh coloration, which ranged from weak to strong, with uncolored flesh being rare. The Georgian population of wild grapevines was found to be fragmented, often consisting of scattered single individuals or small groups. Therefore, we believe it is urgent for Georgia to implement specific protection measures to preserve this vital genetic resource.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/232wild grapevineSouth CaucasusJighaura collectionampelographyphenologygeography |
| spellingShingle | Gabriele Cola Gabriella De Lorenzis Osvaldo Failla Nikoloz Kvaliashvili Shengeli Kikilashvili Maia Kikvadze Londa Mamasakhlisashvili Irma Mdinaradze Ramaz Chipashvili David Maghradze The Status of Wild Grapevine (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) Populations in Georgia (South Caucasus) Plants wild grapevine South Caucasus Jighaura collection ampelography phenology geography |
| title | The Status of Wild Grapevine (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) Populations in Georgia (South Caucasus) |
| title_full | The Status of Wild Grapevine (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) Populations in Georgia (South Caucasus) |
| title_fullStr | The Status of Wild Grapevine (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) Populations in Georgia (South Caucasus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Status of Wild Grapevine (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) Populations in Georgia (South Caucasus) |
| title_short | The Status of Wild Grapevine (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. subsp. <i>sylvestris</i> (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi) Populations in Georgia (South Caucasus) |
| title_sort | status of wild grapevine i vitis vinifera i l subsp i sylvestris i c c gmel hegi populations in georgia south caucasus |
| topic | wild grapevine South Caucasus Jighaura collection ampelography phenology geography |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/2/232 |
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