The use of microsatellites for germplasm management in a Portuguese grapevine collection

To initiate the characterization of the Portuguese grapevine genepool, we h ave genotyped 49 Portuguese grapevine cultivars at 11 microsatellite loci. The markers proved to be informative in the Portuguese cultivars, with expe cted heterozygosity ranging from 0.67 to 0.84. At most loci, an excess of h eterozygous individuals was observed, while the deficiency of heterozygotes at 1 locus (VVMD6) indicated the presence of null alleles. On the basis of the microsatellite allele data several previously assumed synonyms were ve rified: (1) 'Fernao Pires'='Maria Gomes', (2) 'Moscatel de Setlibal'='Musca t of Alexandria', (3) 'Boal Cachudo'='Boal da Madeira'='Malvasia Fina', (4) 'Siria'='Crato Branco'= 'Roupeiro' and (5) 'Periquita'='CastelBo Frances'= 'Joao de Santarem'='Trincadeira'. Although the three varieties 'Verdelho da Madeira', 'Verdelho dos Acores', and 'Verdelho roxo' are regarded by the L ista Nacional de Sinonimos as distinct cultivars, they displayed identical SSR profiles at 17 loci and appear to represent types of 1 single cultivar. The genetic profiles of all 49 cultivars were searched for possible parent -offspring groups. The data obtained revealed the descendence of 'Boal Rati nho' from 'Malvasia Fina' and 'Siria'.