Molecular characterization of twenty seeded and seedless table grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.)

DNA and isoenzyme analyses were used to characterize 20 table grape cultiva rs including Moscato d'Amburgo, Italia, Sultanina, Bicane and some recently released new varieties. GPI and PGM isoenzyme systems were able to separat e the cultivars into 9 groups whereas the 8 microsatellite loci that were a nalysed revealed a higher discriminating power. In fact, all the cultivars could be distinguished by DNA profiles except Sugraone from its sport Sugra five. Parentage analysis confirmed that the cultivar Italia was obtained fr om the crossing Bicane x Moscato d'Amburgo. A difference was observed at on e microsatellite locus between Sultanina and the published data for Thompso n Seedless, considered to be its synonym. The different microsatellite loci were evaluated for their informativeness.