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The domestication and spreading of grapevine as well as the gene flow history had been described in many studies. We used a high-quality 7k SNP dataset of 1,038 Eurasian grape varieties with unique profiles to assess the population genetic diversity, structure, and relatedness, and to infer the most likely migration events. Comparisons of putative scenarios of gene flow throughout Europe from Caucasus helped to fit the more reliable migration routes around the Mediterranean Basin. Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) approach made possible to provide a response to several questions so far remaining unsolved. Firstly, the assessment of genetic diversity and population structure within a well-covered dataset of ancient Italian varieties suggested the different histories between the Northern and Southern Italian grapevines. Moreover, Italian genotypes were shown to be distinguishable from all the other Eurasian populations for the first time. The entire Eurasian panel confirmed the east-to-west gene flow, highlighting the Greek role as a "bridge" between the Western and Eastern Eurasia. Portuguese germplasm showed a greater proximity to French varieties than the Spanish ones, thus being the main route for gene flow from Iberian Peninsula to Central Europe. Our findings reconciled genetic and archaeological data for one of the most cultivated and fascinating crops in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Italian grape germplasm is characterized by a high level of richness in terms of varieties number, with nearly 600 wine grape varieties listed in the Italian National Register of Grapevine Varieties and with a plethora of autochthonous grapes. In the present study an extended SNP genotyping has been carried out on Italian germplasm of cultivated Vitis vinifera subsp. sativa and Vitis hybrids. Several hundred Italian varieties maintained in the repositories of scientific Institutions and about one thousand additional varieties derived from previous studies on European, Southern Italy, Magna Graecia and Georgian germplasm were considered. The large genotyping data obtained were used to check the presence of homonyms and synonyms, determine parental relationships, and identify the main ancestors of traditional Italian cultivars and closely-related accessions. The parentage among a set of 1,232 unique varieties has been assessed. A total of 92 new parent-offspring (PO) pairs and 14 new PO trios were identified. The resulted parentage network suggested that the traditional Italian grapevine germplasm originates largely from a few central varieties geographically distributed into several areas of genetic influence: "Strinto porcino" and its offspring "Sangiovese", "Mantonico bianco" and "Aglianico" mainly as founder varieties of South-Western Italy (IT-SW); Italian Adriatic Coast (IT-AC); and Central Italy with most varieties being offsprings of "Visparola", "Garganega" and "Bombino bianco"; "Termarina (Sciaccarello)" "Orsolina" and "Uva Tosca" as the main varieties of North-Western Italy (IT-NW) and Central Italy. The pedigree reconstruction by full-sib and second-degree relationships highlighted the key role of some cultivars, and, in particular, the centrality of "Visparola" in the origin of Italian germplasm appeared clear. An hypothetical migration of this variety within the Italian Peninsula from South to North along the eastern side, as well as of "Sangiovese" from South to Central Italy along the Western side might be supposed. Moreover, it was also highlighted that, among the main founders of muscat varieties, "Moscato bianco" and "Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria)" have spread over the whole Italy, with a high contribution by the former to germplasm of the North-Western of the peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in the biological properties of grapevine polyphenols (PPs) in neuroprotection is continuously growing in the hope of finding translational applications. However, there are several concerns about the specificity of action of these molecules that appear to act non-specifically on the permeability of cellular membranes. Naturally occurring neuronal death (NOND) during cerebellar maturation is a well characterized postnatal event that is very useful to investigate the death and rescue of neurons. We here aimed to establish a baseline comparative study of the potential to counteract NOND of certain grapevine PPs of interest for the oenology. To do so, we tested ex vivo the neuroprotective activity of peonidin- and malvidin-3-O-glucosides, resveratrol, polydatin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, (+)-taxifolin, and (+)-catechin. The addition of these molecules (50 μM) to organotypic cultures of mouse cerebellum explanted at postnatal day 7, when NOND reaches a physiological peak, resulted in statistically significant (two-tailed Mann–Whitney test—p < 0.001) reductions of the density of dead cells (propidium iodide+ cells/mm2) except for malvidin-3-O-glucoside. The stilbenes were less effective in reducing cell death (to 51–60%) in comparison to flavanols, (+)-taxifolin and quercetin 3-O-glucoside (to 69–72%). Thus, molecules with a -OH group in ortho position (taxifolin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, (+)-catechin, and peonidin 3-O-glucoside) have a higher capability to limit death of cerebellar neurons. As NOND is apoptotic, we speculate that PPs act by inhibiting executioner caspase 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The evolution of the main leaf polyphenols during the season (5 time points) is described. • The polyphenolic composition of leaf veins and blades was analysed separately. • Flavanonols and flavones are highly species-related. • Vitis amurensis displayed the highest and most peculiar polyphenolic concentrations and profiles. • V. candicans , V. coignetiae , V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris and Börner leaf constitutive polyphenols are described for the first time. We identified and quantified the main constitutive polyphenolic compounds of the leaves of seven Vitis species and of one interspecific cross, analysing leaf blades and veins separately, to spread light on the strategic localization of polyphenols in leaf tissues. To the best to our knowledge, the main leaf constitutive polyphenols of V. candicans, V. coignetiae, V. vinifera sylvestris and Börner were never described. V. riparia and V. rupestris (belonging to the same botanical series of Ripariae) displayed similar flavan-3-ol and dimeric proanthocyanidin concentration and similar percentage incidence of caftaric acid over total phenolic acids. V. riparia distinguished respect to the other genotypes for its high flavonol content, the highest percentage incidence of myricetin derivatives and an important diversification in the type of accumulated flavonol. V. berlandieri (series Cinereae) and Börner (hybrid of V. riparia x V. cinerea) accumulated low amounts of flavonol-glucosides comparing to the other species, but they showed a wide profile diversification, as well. However, it was V. v. sylvestris , the wild ancestor of Vitis vinifera subsp. sativa that displayed the widest flavonol profile diversification. The differences in the flavonol profile could be related to the genus Vitis evolution: in fact, with domestication, the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway underwent a progressive simplification; for this, the highest flavonol diversity found in Vitis v. sylvestris is probably a demonstration of its reduced or nil level of domestication. V. amurensis , known for its cold tolerance and resistance to downy mildew, anthracnose and white rot, markedly differentiated respect to the other genotypes, for its high concentration of polyphenols, particularly of vein flavonols and flavanonols. Moreover, V. amurensis leaves generally presented a constantly high concentration of constitutive polyphenols throughout the season that probably contributes to protect against adverse environmental condition. The abundance of polyphenols in V. amurensis leaves emphasizes that this species is a source of natural bioactive compounds that could find application for nutraceutical and pharmacological uses. V. berlandieri and Börner markedly distinguished respect to the other studied species for their exclusive capability to accumulate flavones (mainly orientin, isoorientin, vitexin and isovitexin) in blades and in veins, in considerable amounts. Knowledge about these subjects could contribute to shed light on the identification of species-related molecules involved in the plant-defense mechanisms, to the chemotaxonomy of the genus Vitis , to the possibility of identifying specific natural bioactive compounds to use in plant-based preparation for nutraceutical, cosmetic, feed/food-additive purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting in 1931, Giovanni Dalmasso carried out intense grapevine breeding activity, creating more than 100 wine and table grape crosses. He sought to contribute to the economic development of Italian viticulture, but also left considerable genetic material for further breeding programs. Owing to the current strong interest in the genetic improvement of grapevines, the pedigrees of varieties released by breeders must be determined. The aim of this study was to genetically characterize and verify the disclosed pedigrees of Dalmasso’s crosses (IDs). Nuclear microsatellite profiles (n-SSR) of 42 ID accessions and 22 genotypes declared as parents were obtained at 22 loci. By cross-validation of allele size, declared parentages were verified. When one or both disclosed parents were found to be incorrect due to inconsistent genetic data, putative parent(s) were sought via SSR profile comparison within the grapevine molecular database of CNR-Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, and the probability estimated via IDENTITY v. 4.0 software. Through microsatellite analysis, three duplicated genotypes were discovered and twenty ID parentages out of 39 were confirmed. In 13 IDs, one parent was incorrect, in 2 IDs, both parents were inconsistent with microsatellite profiles, and in 4 IDs the pedigree could not be verified since the pollen donor was not available. Apart from invalidated crosses likely due to pollen contamination, 5 accessions were mislabelled, either when both parents were invalidated or when two specimens of the same offspring were differently labelled. Verification of breeder’s declared parentages revealed 43% of invalidated pedigrees within the investigated wine and table cross-breeds. The results provide additional insight into grapevine available diversity, and may aid the development of further breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]