Molecular, Chemical and Morphological Tools to Explore Vertzami / Marzemino / Barzemino / Balsamina Cultivar Group

• Published in: Acta horticulturae no. 6031; pp. 217 - 223
• Main Authors: Labra, Massimo, Fasoli, Valeria, Failla, Osvaldo, Spinardi, Anna, Nikolau, Nikolaos, Stefanini, Marco, Villa, Pierluigi, Scienza, Attilio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Society for Horticultural Science 2003
• Subjects: amplified fragment length polymorphism; anthocyanins; biodiversity; chemotaxonomy; cultivars; genetic variation; germplasm; germplasm conservation; islands; microsatellite repeats; vineyards; Italy
• ISSN: 0567-7572

The relationships within the Vertzami / Marzemino / Barzemino / Balsamina group were investigated with the aim to recover intra-variety biodiversity. Vertzami is a variety grown in Lefkas (a Greek Ionian island) considered to be very close to Marzemino, which is grown in north-eastern Italy as well as Barzemino and Balsamina, which at the present are germplasm relics. More than fifty accessions were sampled including: Vertzami from different sites in Lefkas; Marzemino from different localities and germplasm collections; Barzemino from germplasm collection or from old and marginal vineyards; Balsamina from germplasm collections. Accessions were analysed by molecular (SSR and AFLP markers), chemotaxonomic (anthocyanin profile of berry skin) and morphological (phyllometry) methods. Results showed that Vertzami / Marzemino / Barzemino / Balsamina are different varieties even if phylogenetically related. Vertzami accessions did not show any genetic diversity and very low phenotypical differences. Marzemino accessions displayed a minor genetic and phenotypic diversity. Results support the idea that Vertzami is a distinct member of this cultivar family, which had origin in Italy and that was introduced in Lefkas by Venetians during their dominion of the Ionian islands (XIV-XVIII centuries).