Fruit growing
and viticulture of South Russia

Annotation

Traditional ampelographic descriptions are supplemented by molecular genetic data in the study of the grape gene pool at the present time. The territory of Abkhazia is one of the centers of the cultivated grapes arising; many wild-growing forms and ancient native grape varieties are found here. Local native cultivars of different regions are the important part of world grape gene pool of Vitis vinifera. We performed the genotyping of Kachich grape plants, which can be qualify as the most famous local variety of Abkhazia. SSR markers recommended by the Union of Grape Genetics for genotyping of Vitis vinifera were used in the work: VVS2, VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD25, VVMD27, VVMD28, VVMD32, VrZAG62, VrZAG79. Molecular genetic analysis was carried out performed by PCR using an ABI Prism 3130 automatic genetic analyzer. The objects of study are grape plants cultivated at three points in Abkhazia under the name �Kachich� and have morphological characteristics similar to the variety described in the USSR Ampelography. DNA analysis revealed that one of the analyzed samples is significantly different from the other two samples in microsatellite profiles. Thus, it can be argued that, in general, at least two different genotypes with similar morphological characteristics are grown under one name in Abkhazia, and, two other samples of the variety showed identical DNA profiles of plants. According to ampelographic features, these samples are closed to the description of the Kachich morphotype presented in ampelography. One of these samples grows in the collection of �Wines and Waters of Abkhazia� company and were planting with planted material from the ampelographic collection of the Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking �Magarach�. It can be concluded that we obtained the DNA profile of the Kachich genotype corresponding to the morphological description of the variety.

Annotation

The territory of the Abkhazia Republic is recognized as one of the regions of the cultural vine origin. Here there are many native varieties and wild forms of grapes. The study of the grape gene pool at the molecular genetic level makes it possible to much more fully assess the genetic diversity of varieties and forms, to identify closer and distant genotypes. The purpose of this work is to study the wild-growing vines in Abkhazia. The search for wild forms of grapes was carried out in the Gudautskiy, Gagrskiy and Sukhumskiy districts of the Republic of Abkhazia, in areas remote and fairly isolated from cultivated vineyards. 7 samples were selected for the study. The description of the found vines by morphological characteristics has been carried out. DNA was extracted from the apical parts of vine shoots by the CTAB method. Genotyping was performed using 11 SSR markers: VVS2, VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD25, VVMD27, VVMD28, VVMD32, VrZAG62, VrZAG79, UDV737 and GF09-46. The amplified PCR reaction products were assessed by capillary electrophoresis using an ABI Prism 3130 automatic genetic analyzer, with following size determination using the GeneMapper and PeakScanner software, correcting the values taking into account the data of reference genotypes with known allelic composition. Statistical processing of microsatellite loci polymorphism data was performed using the GenAlEx 6.5 program. Analysis of the DNA profiles obtained in the international database of DNA passports of grape varieties do not show any coincidences. It is revealed that the three analyzed samples collected at one geographical point are identical in terms of DNA profiles and ampelographic description. One of the vines found is probably an interspecific hybrid. Statistical processing of microsatellite locus polymorphism data showed that the observed heterozygosity of the sample studied is slightly lower than the expected heterozygosity: 0.618 and 0.687 respectively.

Annotation

The central part of Abkhazia is recognized as one of the regions where the cultural grapevine originates. Famous varieties that have created the fame of local wines as well as the less-studied genotypes and wild-growing forms grow here. The study of the local gene pool of grapes at the molecular genetic level makes it possible to more fully assess the genetic diversity of varieties and forms, to identify closer and distant genotypes. As a part of the study of the Abkhazia grapes, we are carrying out DNA profiling of local cultivars. The purpose of this work is to study the genotype of the variety Azhshkuakua (Azhizhkvakva) variety. The Azhshkuakua plants growing in the collection of the agricultural company "Wines and Waters of Abkhazia", corresponding to the varietal description was used in the work. DNA was extracted from the apical part of young shoots of the cultivar`s plants by the method based on the use of CTAB. Genotyping was performed using SSR markers recommended for identification of grape varieties: VVS2, VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD25, VVMD27, VVMD28, VVMD32, VrZAG62, VrZAG79. The amplified PCR reaction products were evaluated by capillary electrophoresis using an ABI Prism 3130 automatic genetic analyzer, followed by sizing using the GeneMapper and PeakScanner software, correcting the values taking into account the data of the control (reference) genotype with a known allelic composition (Pinot noir). Analysis of the obtained DNA profile of Azhizhkvakva in the international database of DNA-fingerprint of grape varieties revealed its correspondence to the profile of the Tsitska cultivar, which is considered an indigenous variety of Georgia. The genotypes of these cultivars can be considered synonymous, since they have almost identical morphological features. According to the literature and molecular genetic data, confirmed the high degree of genetic similarity of varieties, it can be assumed that these cultivars are clonal variations of the same genotype.