Vitis vinifera must varietal authentication using microsatellite DNA analysis (SSR)

A microsatellite DNA-based method for Vitis vinifera grape must authenticat ion is presented. Five of the most important port wine producing grape cult ivars (Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cao, Touriga Francesa, Touriga Nacional, and Tint a Barroca) were typed at four microsatellite loci described by Bowers et al . (Genome 1996, 39, 628-633) and Thomas and Scott (Theor. Appl. Genet 1993, 86, 985-990). The corresponding 5 varietal musts and 26 must mixtures that result from the combination of the five varieties were also typed at the f our loci. There were no differences between the corresponding leaf and vari etal must profiles. All must combinations showed the expected band profiles corresponding to the sum of the varietal band profile components. Among th e 26 must mixtures, 8 could be discriminated using the four loci.