Wildly growing Eurasian grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) in Georgia: composition, research and efforts for the preservation

Two types of wildly growing Eurasian grapevines are found in the South Caucasus region of Georgia: one is the native plant Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi, and the other is composed of a few genotypes of Vitis vinifera L. occasionally living in wild environments. Several international and national projects have facilitated investigation and activities for the preservation of these plants since 2003, including: monitoring of natural populations in the wild environment; description of discovered plants by GPS, eco-botany methods and photo documentation; ampelographic, eno-carpological, phenological, enological, DNA (SSR and SNP) assays and phytosanitary investigations; strategy for preservation in the Jighaura collection of Scientific - Research Center of Agriculture (SRCA). Field expedition described 8 wildly growing plants of Eurasian grapevine V. vinifera with traits of cultivated grapes. There were 11 new populations of V. sylvestris described in the last 4 years. Ampelographic research and phenological observation were used to describe 49 genotypes based on the OIV descriptors in the collection. Only one genotype among 49 accessions produced a resistance against Plasmopara viticola-score of 7 based on the OIV452-1 test. The wines established in the experimental field were tested by enological and sensorial methods. DNA testing confirmed the belonging of the studied genotypes to V. vinifera compartments and demonstrated the proximity of wild, wildly growing and cultivated grapes, being subject to discuss the significance of Georgia for the domestication of European grapevine.