Proceedings of the XLVII Italian Society of Agricultural Genetics - SIGA Annual Congress

Verona, Italy - 24/27 September, 2003

ISBN 88-900622-4-X

Oral Communication Abstract - S2n

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GENETIC LINKAGE MAPS AND QTL INFORMATION PRODUCED FOR GRAPE (VITIS SPP.)

A. MADINI*, F. SEVINI*, L. COSTANTINI*, R. CHAABANE*^,**, F. MOREIRA*^,***, R. MARINO*, M. S. GRANDO*

*) Lab. of Molecular Genetics, Istituto Agrario di San Michele all’Adige, via E. Mach 1, 38010 San Michele a/A (TN)

**) DIBCA Genetics and Plant Breeding Section, University of Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari

***) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico (CNPG), Brasil

linkage maps, QTL, vitis, grape

Grapevine is one of the most important crops in Europe based on cultivated surface, economic and cultural criteria. Despite these considerations, few is known on the genetic determinism of characters of agronomic interest and on the gene sequences which, either alone or in combination, are required for each specific trait. Since recently detailed genetic maps of polymorphic markers started to be available, the interest to optimise the strategies for breeding of new high quality grapevine varieties resistant to pathogens is rising.

Today, the development of DNA sequences and the increasing number of mapping projects are exploiting the potential of codominant molecular markers to generate a common reference genetic map for grape. A set of microsatellite markers enables the identification of all 19 homologous linkage groups and enhances the direct comparison of information derived from different crosses. Moreover, several experiments are being performed to assess QTL stability across different genetic backgrounds and environments.

We discuss here the comparative analysis and utility of existing molecular maps of grape that were based on both intra-vinifera crossings (i.e. Italia x Big Perlon, Riesling r. x Cabernet Sauvignon) and F1 hybrid progenies (i.e. V. vinifera Moscato b. x V. riparia, V. rupestris x Muscadinia rotundifolia). First evaluation of QTL detected for the traits ‘muscat flavour’ and ‘resistance to Downy mildew’ are reported as well from mapping experiments designed to investigate the genetic control of very important traits for table grape and wine production.

Research supported by Projects Advanced Biology (Fondazione delle Casse di Risparmio di Trento e Rovereto) and INCO-DEV Marker Assisted Selection for TablE gRape MASTER (European Commission).