Grape Germplasm Resources

From IGGP

Most, if not all, countries with a viticulture industry have grape germplasm collections. These collections are maintained as long-term field plantings. Distribution of genotypes is by woody cuttings which are usually collected in winter when the plant is dormant.

Quarantine restrictions may be imposed on the importation of cuttings from certain countries and regions because of the risk of spreading pathogens and pests.

Due to problems with visual identification of varieties by morphological traits and the same variety having many different names across regions and countries DNA profiling with microsatellite markers has become popular as a means of identifying incorrectly named genotypes as well as synonyms and homonyms.

The list of grape germplasm collections below represents only a few which are available on the web.

Grape Descriptor Databases

• Vitis International Variety Catalogue
• European Vitis Database
• Greek Vitis Database - ampelography and microsatellite profiles, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Germplasm Collections on the Web

• USDA, ARS Cold Hardy Grape Collection Geneva, NY, USA.
• USDA, ARS National Germplasm Repository at Davis, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
• European Network for Grapevine Genetic Resources Conservation and Characterization, Germany.