MICROSATELLITE DNA POLYMORPHISM ANALYSIS OF CLONES OF VITIS-VINIFERA SANGIOVESE

Allelic polymorphism at seven microsatellite loci (VVMD5, VVMD6, VVMD7 , VVMD8, VVMS2, VVMS4, and VVMS29) was analyzed in 12 clones of Vitis vinifera L. 'Sangiovese', an ancient Italian wine grape cultivar. Elev en of the clones were identical at all seven loci, but one clone (SG 8 T) differed from the others by one allele at each of four loci. These data suggest that the eleven identical clones most likely originated f rom a single seedling progenitor and that SG 8T could be a seedling, p arent or sibling of this progenitor. A strict definition of cultivar ( monoclonal origin) would require that SG 8T be excluded from 'Sangiove se', but a broader definition, that includes the possibility of polycl onal origin from closely related individuals, is widely accepted in th e wine grape research community. If analysis at additional loci confir ms the close genetic relationship between SG 8T and the other clones t hat is suggested by this study, then, by the broader definition, SG 8T might still be included in the cultivar Sangiovese. The ability to de tect allelic differences that is afforded by microsatellite analysis m ay force a clarification of Be economic definitions of ''cultivar'' an d ''clone'' with respect to wine grapes.