Multiple origins of cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sativa) based on chloroplast DNA polymorphisms

Abstract

The domestication of the Eurasian grape ( Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa ) from its wild ancestor ( Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris ) has long been claimed to have occurred in Transcaucasia where its greatest genetic diversity is found and where very early archaeological evidence, including grape pips and artefacts of a 'wine culture', have been excavated. Whether from Transcaucasia or the nearby Taurus or Zagros Mountains, it is hypothesized that this wine culture spread southwards and eventually westwards around the Mediterranean basin, together with the transplantation of cultivated grape cuttings. However, the existence of morphological differentiation between cultivars from eastern and western ends of the modern distribution of the Eurasian grape suggests the existence of different genetic contribution from local sylvestris populations or multilocal selection and domestication of sylvestris genotypes. To tackle this issue, we analysed chlorotype variation and distribution in 1201 samples of sylvestris and sativa genotypes from the whole area of the species' distribution and studied their genetic relationships. The results suggest the existence of at least two important origins for the cultivated germplasm, one in the Near East and another in the western Mediterranean region, the latter of which gave rise to many of the current Western European cultivars. Indeed, over 70% of the Iberian Peninsula cultivars display chlorotypes that are only compatible with their having derived from western sylvestris populations.

Linkage disequilibrium in wild French grapevine, Vitis vinifera L. subsp. silvestris

“…A similar pattern was found between wild and cultivated sunflower (H. annuus) (Liu and Burke, 2006) and in Glycine soja, the wild ancestor of soybean, LD did not extend past 100 kb, whereas in three cultivated G. max populations (landraces, North American ancestors and elite cultivars), LD extended from 90 to 574 kb (Hyten et al, 2007). Domestication of grapevine probably took place in the Near East and Western Mediterranean regions (Arroyo-García et al, 2006). Domestication led to major changes in the mating system of the grapevine, with the selection of hermaphrodism and the development of vegetative propagation (Zohary and Hopf 2000).…”

“…On the basis of historical records, many of the current grapevine varieties can be traced back hundreds of years (Bowers et al, 1999). According to these historical records, grapevine cultivars appear to be separated from their wild relatives by a low number of sexual generations, not higher than 80 (Arroyo-García et al, 2006). This low number of generations can explain the maintenance of such a large difference (LD twelve times extended) between cultivated and wild grapevines, although our data set was not designed to accurately resolve the demographic history associated with domestication.…”

Evolution of the VvMybA gene family, the major determinant of berry colour in cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

“…Interestingly, these findings tend to favour the hypothesis that the western grapes have conserved the ancestral macrohaplotypes, whereas the eastern grapes are the result of continuous and intensive breeding practices that have led to the loss of antique diversity, even that endemic to these regions (Levadoux, 1956). This evidence favours the correlation between lower selective pressure for the wine uses in the western region and an increased selection for table use in the eastern region (Arroyo-Garcia et al, 2006;Le Cunff et al, 2008). Furthermore, selection process for table grapes is more straightforward because of easier quality trait evaluation.…”

“…The diffusion of grapevines from Transcaucasus naturally led to an East-to-West pattern of colonization, following human migrations (Mc Govern, 2003). Furthermore, propagation by cuttings, generation overlap and possible secondary domestication events, as well as hybridization with sympatric wild relatives (Levadoux, 1956), led to a very complex pattern of admixture (Aradhya et al, 2003;Arroyo-Garcia et al, 2006). Although nuclear and chloroplastic microsatellite markers helped to resolve questions about the grape genetic structure and cultivar evolution (Arroyo-Garcia et al, 2006;This et al, 2006), the molecular bases of trait adaptation are still poorly investigated in non-model organisms.…”

The clone selection studies on Siyah Gemre grape variety

“…Grape varieties that has a great potential in Turkey, owing to the fact that Anatolia is one of the centers of diversity for V. vinifera [1]. In the methods used in vine breeding studies is the largest rate, clone selection method.…”