Dual domestications and origin of traits in grapevine evolution

Abstract

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.

A tale of three vines: current and future threats to wild Eurasian grapevine by vineyards and invasive rootstocks

“…Only one Vitis species, the Eurasian grapevine (V. vinifera L.), is native to Europe, originating in the Mediterranean basin and the Caucasus. Its domestication started in the Near East, between the Black and Caspian Seas, during the early Neolithic period, ~11,000 years ago (Dong et al, 2023;Grassi & De Lorenzis, 2021;Myles et al, 2011). Domestication processes led to cultivated grape varieties (V. vinifera ssp.…”

“…vinifera L., hereafter V. vinifera) diverging from their wild relative (V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi; hereafter V. sylvestris) and presenting numerous genotypical and phenotypical differences (Aradhya et al, 2003;Cunha et al, 2020;De Andrés et al, 2012;Dong et al, 2023;Grassi & De Lorenzis, 2021;Levadoux, 1956;McGovern, 2003;This et al, 2006;Zecca et al, 2012).…”

“…The bioclimatic overlap between wild and cultivated grapevines is not surprising, as the divergence of V. sylvestris and V. vinifera only occurred in recent human history (Dong et al, 2023). Vineyards are established under suitable climates for wild grapevines acting as direct and indirect environmental stressors for V. sylvestris.…”

“…sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi; hereafter V . sylvestris ) and presenting numerous genotypical and phenotypical differences (Aradhya et al, 2003; Cunha et al, 2020; De Andrés et al, 2012; Dong et al, 2023; Grassi & De Lorenzis, 2021; Levadoux, 1956; McGovern, 2003; This et al, 2006; Zecca et al, 2012). Since then, viticulture has rapidly diversified and spread to become one of the most widely distributed and cultivated fruit crops with important economic interests (Arroyo‐García and Revilla, 2013; De Mattia et al, 2008; Fraga et al, 2012; Grassi & De Lorenzis, 2021).…”

Vitis vinifera genotyping toolbox to highlight diversity and germplasm identification

“…Grapevine ( Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the oldest and most important cultivated plants in the world ( Myles et al., 2015 ; Laucou et al., 2018 ) and is believed to include between 6,000 and 10,000 cultivars worldwide. Although most of the evidence supports the appearance of domesticated vines dates eight thousand years back to the Western Asia region ( McGovern, 2013 ), a recent article supported the hypothesis of the concurrent domestication of grapevine in Western Asia and the Caucasus ( Dong et al., 2023 ). In the late Neolithic period, the Western Asia domesticates diffused throughout Europe, introgressed with old wild western ecotypes and diversified to give western wine ancestry.…”