The selection of Vitis vinifera L. cultivars based on berry texture, iPBS genetic markers, and noble rot susceptibility analysis

Abstract

The selection of a suitable grape variety (Vitis vinifera L.) for specific viticulture and oenology objectives is a considerable challenge in the context of climate change. To enhance varietal management practices, such as clone selection or breeding, a substantial volume of fundamental and applied research is focused not only on the selection of varieties for various crops but also on the development of the selection methodologies themselves. In this study, clones of the Furmint grape variety, the most widely cultivated in Hungary’s Tokaj wine region, were analysed. These clones, in contrast to earlier breeding lines, were selected for the purpose of producing dry white wine, a distinction from the majority of previously chosen clones, which were deemed suitable for the production of Tokaj’s aszú wine, a distinguished botrytized wine endemic to the region.The present study focuses on evaluating the susceptibility of grapevines to Botrytis cinerea infection and the ampelographic characteristics associated with the production of premium dry wine. The 13 chosen clone candidates were evaluated alongside 14 clones from earlier selection lines during cultivation.Analyses of inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers, phylogenetic comparisons based on retrotransposons, oenological measurements, and assessments of berry texture were performed.The findings indicate that the three clone candidates recognised as later infected by Botrytis show variations in the texture data, when compared to other candidate clones as well as clones from different selection lines. While the iPBS marker assay and multivariate statistical examination of oenological measurements can distinguish new clonal candidates from older ones, they cannot effectively identify the three clonal candidates that possess outstanding traits for dry Furmint vinification. Our research findings have revealed three new candidates for Furmint clones that exhibit increased resistance to Botrytis infection.