Assessment of the native electrophoretic analysis of total grape must proteins for the characterization of Vitis vinifera L. cultivars

The findings of an ampelographic analysis of vines belonging to a Germoplas m Bank were compared to the results of native electrophoresis of the total proteins in their musts. Cluster analysis of the data from the morphologica l description produced correct groupings, in terms of variety, for all samp les. When cluster analysis was performed on the electrophoretic data, 10 of the 11 musts studied were grouped correctly. Electrophoresis was also perf ormed on 30 musts made from a mixture of grapes from large vineyards. In th e cluster analysis of the electrophoretic data on the proteins of the 41 mu sts studied, all the musts are grouped correctly in terms of variety. Elect rophoretic analysis of proteins is a simple technique that can be used rout inely, provides complementary information to morphological analysis for var ietal characterization of vines, and in the majority of cases; makes it pos sible to ascertain the grape variety from which musts originate.