Morocco, located at the crossroads of ancient Mediterranean viticultural routes and within the natural distribution range of wild grapevine, can represent a valuable yet underexplored reservoir of grapevine diversity that might be useful as a source of adaptive traits to improve grapevine resilience to current climatic scenarios. In this study, we conducted a systematic prospection of former viticultural areas in the Beni Mellal–Khénifra region of the Atlas region in central Morocco that led to the identification of 67 relict grapevines. These plants were genetically characterized using a combined strategy based on 13 nuclear SSR markers and 240 SNPs, an approach that revealed 20 distinct genetic profiles. Seven of them corresponded to known cultivated varieties, while the remaining profiles were not found in international reference databases. Several unidentified genotypes were detected repeatedly across distant locations, suggesting former local relevance for grape production. Parentage analyses uncovered previously unreported familial relationships among Moroccan varieties, and identified potential ancient key founder genotypes contributing to regional grapevine diversity. Comparative analyses with a representative panel of Western Mediterranean wild and cultivated grapevines demonstrated that most relict plants belong to the Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa gene pool. However, a subset of them displayed significant genetic contributions from V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris, indicating historical hybridization events between both subspecies. Overall, our results indicate that the traditional grapevine assortment of the Moroccan Atlas region was shaped by three main sources of genetic diversity: autochthonous Maghrebi varieties, introduced varieties from the Iberian Peninsula, and local sativa-sylvestris hybrids locally adopted for grape cultivation. This complex genetic background reflects a long history of grapevine cultivation, exchange, and adaptation in Morocco. The identification of uncatalogued grapevine genotypes and multiple partial parentage relationships highlights the high level of genetic erosion suffered by Moroccan viticulture, but also emphasizes the considerable potential of relict grapevines as a source of unique genetic resources. These findings support the urgent need for conservation, further agronomic evaluation, and potential valorisation of Moroccan grapevine germplasm in the context of climate change adaptation.

Because grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars are highly heterozygous, they must be clonally propagated to preserve their varietal attributes. Over extended cultivar propagation, somatic mutations arise and can generate new phenotypes useful for intra-varietal improvement. Somatic variants with looser bunches – associated with more uniform berry ripening and reduced bunch rot incidence – are particularly valuable in compact-bunch cultivars. To understand the basis of this trait, we combined phenotyping, genomics, and genetic analyses to study VP11, a loose-bunch somatic variant clone with reduced fruit set of the wine grape cultivar ‘Tempranillo Tinto’. Pollen viability and the number of seeds per berry were reduced by 50

Today’s wine and Pisco grape production in Peru is largely dominated by a reduced number of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties. However, Peru is home to a high number of lesser-known local varieties that are still present in traditional vineyards and/or preserved in national or regional grapevine collections, of interest to diversify the local industry. Here, we analyzed 121 grapevine accessions preserved in the ampelographic collection of the Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA-EEA) at Chincha (Ica, Peru), using a combined SNP and SSR genetic profiling strategy for their molecular characterization and identification. This approach led to the differentiation of 45 different grapevine genetic profiles, 40 of them corresponding to already catalogued table and wine grape varieties of diverse geographic origin. Interestingly, we found five grapevines with genetic profiles not registered before. Some of them were found to be descendants of Listán Prieto and/or Muscat of Alexandria, increasing the known role of these two varieties as founders of the Criolla varieties, the autochthonous South American grapevine germplasm. A predominance of the varieties Listán Prieto and Quebranta was also observed, as they were found to be preserved multiple times in the INIA-EEA Grapevine Collection under different local synonyms. Strikingly, the phenotypic description of different accessions matching the genotypes of these two relevant varieties showed a high degree of phenotypic diversity, including the identification of novel berry-color and Muscat-flavored somatic variants that might have a direct impact toward local grape industry diversification. These findings underline the importance of the local genetic resources preserved at the INIA-EEA Grapevine Collection for grapevine improvement. Registering the newly identified varieties and somatic variants with novel traits of interest would represent a crucial first step toward making this plant material available to local grape growers, ultimately promoting the diversification of the Peruvian grape, wine, and Pisco industries.

Varietal identity is an essential part of wine authentication and should be assessed throughout the winemaking process. DNA markers such SSRs have been applied for grapevine identification but can underperform in wine sample analysis. SNP markers combined with High Resolution Melting represent an alternative approach wine analysis. Our aim was to develop HRM assays targeting similar to 100 bp fragments, applicable for varietal discrimination in must and wine, and evaluate their potential as quantification tool in wine blends. Varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Donzelinho Tinto, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Rufete were used. Four SNP markers were selected for HRM assays development. Three assays discriminated the varieties using must samples. Using wine DNA, the results varied but all HRM assays were successful in Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional samples. Regarding varietal quantification in blends, two HRM assays allowed the discrimination Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca monovarietal samples and 90%/10% wine blends.

Background Because grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars are highly heterozygous, they must be clonally propagated to preserve their varietal attributes. Over extended cultivar propagation histories, somatic mutations arise and can generate new phenotypes useful for intra-varietal improvement. Somatic variants with looser bunches – associated with more uniform berry ripening and reduced bunch rot incidence – are particularly valuable in compact-bunch cultivars. To understand the basis of this trait, we combined phenotyping, genomics, and genetic analyses to study VP11, a loose-bunch somatic variant clone of the wine grape cultivar ‘Tempranillo Tinto’. Results Pollen viability and the number of seeds per berry were reduced by ~50% in VP11 compared to a control clone of ‘Tempranillo Tinto’. Long-read whole-genome sequencing identified eleven large somatic structural variants (SVs) in VP11, including three inter-chromosomal events. These consisted of one fixed reciprocal translocation (Tra1-3), with duplications spanning tens of kilobases at the translocation breakpoints, and two segmental duplications (one fixed and one likely L2 meristem cell layer-restricted). All three SVs were molecularly validated, including the phasing and exchange of distal chromosome segments in Tra1-3. In VP11 self-cross progeny, pollen viability was significantly reduced among individuals carrying Tra1-3, and the two translocation chromosomes were always inherited together, indicating that gametes with an unbalanced chromosomal content are non-viable. Conclusions This study identifies reduced gamete viability caused by a heterozygous balanced reciprocal translocation as a mechanism underlying the loose-bunch trait in grapevine. We conclude that even if a genetic defect reduces gamete viability, it can still be useful to decrease seed and fruit set in vegetatively propagated crops where these traits are desirable.

Grapevine cultivars are vegetatively propagated to maintain their varietal characteristics. This process of multiplication leads to spontaneous somatic mutations that can eventually generate a variant phenotype, of potential interest for cultivar improvement and innovation. However, regardless their phenotypic effect, somatic mutations stack in the genome, and they can be used to reveal the origin and dissemination history of ancient cultivars. Here, a stringent somatic variant calling over whole genome resequencing data from 35 'Tempranillo Tinto' clones or old vines from seven Iberian winemaking regions revealed 135 single nucleotide variations (SNVs) shared by some of the clonal lines. Among them, we selected 56 highly informative SNVs to custom-design a high-throughput genotyping chip for this cultivar, which was validated and further tested in 94 'Tempranillo Tinto' vines from highly diverse regions. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that 'Tempranillo Tinto' samples grouped in three major clonal lineages, a clustering that reflected the geographic origin of the samples. After combining these results with genome re-sequencing data from the two 'Tempranillo Tinto' parents, we found the Ebro River Valley as the most likely region of origin for 'Tempranillo Tinto'. Results also revealed one major historical dissemination route that likely progressed westwards from this original site, towards the main winemaking regions found across the Duero River Valley and to the South in Portugal. Collectively, the results obtained in this study shed light on the origin and historical dispersal of 'Tempranillo Tinto' in the Iberian Peninsula, and released highly informative SNVs for the differentiation of intra-cultivar lineages.

Grapevine cultivars are vegetatively propagated to maintain their varietal attributes. However, spontaneous somatic variation emerges during prolonged periods of vegetative growth, providing an opportunity for the natural improvement of traditional grapevine cultivars. Notably, reduction in bunch compactness is a favorable trait in viticulture, offering advantages such as decreased susceptibility to bunch fungal diseases, and a more uniform ripening of berries. To unravel the genetic and developmental mechanisms behind bunch compactness variation, we examined a somatic variant of Tempranillo Tinto cultivar with loose bunches. We found that the mutant clone exhibits a ~50% reduction in pollen viability compared to typical Tempranillo clones. By aligning Illumina and Nanopore whole-genome sequencing reads to a diploid genome assembly of Tempranillo, we identified genome structural variations (SV) specific of this clone: translocation events involving chromosomes 1-3, 7-11, and 8-17. The presence of the SV breakpoints was validated using PCR and Sanger sequencing. The analysis of self-cross progeny of the mutant clone showed that low pollen viability and reduced number of seeds per berry co-segregate with the SV event between specific haplotypes of chromosomes 1 and 3, suggesting a causal effect for this rearrangement. Inspection of Nanopore read alignments identified that the SV 1-3 event corresponds to a complex reciprocal translocation with duplications at the breakpoints of the two involved chromosomes. Considering that heterozygous reciprocal translocations associate with partially incompatible chromosome pairing during meiosis, we propose that this type of SV decreases fruit set rate by lowering gamete viability, ultimately reducing bunch compactness.

We have characterized the 60 table grape accessions preserved at the living collection of the Domaine Exp & eacute;rimental de Ain Taoujdate (Morocco) through DNA analyses. Genetic profiling based on 13 SSRs and 240 SNP markers identified up to 40 different genotypes, denoting a certain level of redundancy. This information was useful to detect many cases of misspelled accessions, some misnamed varieties, and several potential new synonymies. The comparison of these genetic profiles with international databases led to the identification of 58 accessions as 38 table grape varieties, half of them corresponding to obtentions bred in recent programs of table grape improvement. Only two accessions (named "Diamant Noir" and "Sultanine Ros & eacute;e") did not match any known genetic profile. We found that "Sultanine Ros & eacute;e" does not correspond to 'Kishmish Rozovyi', the described pink -berried variant of 'Sultanina'. Indeed, it turned out to be a grape variety not catalogued in international genetic databases that arose from the cross between 'Sultanina' and 'Fokiano', which we suggest to name 'Sultanine Rose Faux'. Besides, the duo detected between the accession "Diamant Noir" and the variety 'Moscato D'Adda' suggests that it might correspond to the table grape variety named 'Diamante Nero' ('Pirovano 57' x 'Moscato D'Adda'). We proved that molecular -assisted parentage analyses could be an efficient approach to suggest an identity for grapevine varieties that lack a matching genotype in international catalogues.

Societal Impact Statement Table grape production is a traditional practice in southeastern Spain, where locals have produced fresh grapes and raisins for centuries. Many of these vines are now centenary, and they represent a useful source of diversity for developing future table grape varieties with improved traits. Genetic analysis showed that many of the local varieties identified in this study were traditional varieties from Western Mediterranean countries. Others were not identified, and they might be old grape varieties of previous importance in the region. The conservation and characterization of these varieties could be key to ensuring current and future vineyard sustainability. Summary Current worldwide table grape production focuses on a reduced number of Vitis vinifera L. varieties. However, traditional farmers have grown many table grape varieties for centuries, as they provided a steady source of fresh fruit and raisins. These ancient living genotypes potentially store a genetic diversity that can be used now to ensure future grape production. Here we focused on the study of grapevines found across Almería, one of the Spanish regions with longer tradition in table grape production. After an exhaustive inspection, we located 220 old (some centenary) vines producing grapes consumed by owners or in abandoned areas no longer devoted to agriculture. Some of these vines were identified by comparing their simple sequence repeat (SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genetic profiles with available data from international databases. We found that, while grape growers' efforts focused on the cultivation of traditional grape varieties from Western Mediterranean regions, they also cultivated few exogenous varieties if they provided additional fruit features. Other vines were found to have genetic profiles that did not match reference datasets. Interestingly, some of them were found in multiple locations, suggesting they are endangered varieties with some previous relevance in the region. Besides, first‐degree relationships support the autochthonous origin of many of these unidentified genotypes. Locals kept a high number of different grapevine varieties, now considered reservoirs of genetic diversity. Traditional farming practices have been useful to prevent the loss of this diversity, which now needs to be preserved and further studied to contribute to the sustainability of viticultural systems.

Background: The increasing incidence of fraud demands for new robust methods to assess food authenticity. Over the past decades, biosensors have emerged as practical testing devices with exponential growth in diverse research fields. Their numerous advantages have contributed to their implementation in the food sector, with applications ranging from the identification of pathogens, chemical compounds and allergens to spoilage detection and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) identification in various food products. Scope and approach: This review explores the development of DNA -based biosensors for food authenticity assessment with a focus on species identification. The role and versatility of nucleic acids as analytes and biorecognition elements are discussed, and the available conventional methods are presented. The main transducing principles involved in biosensing, and the use of nanomaterials are briefly introduced. The application of various DNA -based biosensors over the last decade is shown, highlighting the main innovations and how these have contributed to the improvement of their performance. The final section addresses how different technologies can influence biosensor manufacturing and optimization, so these can become established rapid on -site testing devices used to assess food authenticity. Key findings and conclusions: In the food sector, little research has been carried out in food authenticity regarding biosensors. The development of these devices is mainly aimed at species identification in meat and derived products, although other equally relevant products should be targeted. Several recent technological advances have been successfully integrated into biosensors and must be further explored to promote the establishment of these devices in food authenticity assessment.

Vegetative propagation of grapevines can generate spontaneous somatic variations, providing a valuable source for cultivar improvement. In this context, natural variation in the composition of phenolic compounds in grapevine berries and seeds stands as a pivotal factor in crafting wines with diverse oenological profiles from the same cultivar. To deepen on the understanding of the physiological and genetic mechanisms driving somatic variation in grape phenolics, here we characterized a somatic variant from Tempranillo Tinto, the clone VN21, that exhibits an intense reduced berry skin cuticle and increased extractability of phenolic compounds during wine fermentation. Furthermore, VN21 seeds exhibit anomalous development characterized by diminished lignification, substantial anthocyanin accumulation, and an inherent inability to germinate. Transcriptomic analysis identified alterations in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, outstanding the down-regulation of a secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase and the up-regulation of a pinorenisol-lariciresinol reductase genes in the berry skin of VN21 compared to the reference Tempranillo Tinto clone RJ43 at veraison stage. These genes encode enzymes in the lignans branch of the phenylpropanoids pathway that are compounds that can potentially reduce the risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPHLC) analysis in both berry skin and seed confirmed a distinct phenylpropanoid accumulation pattern between VN21 and RJ43, with an overall reduction in the accumulation of lignan compounds in VN21. The results obtained not only contribute to understand grapevine berry development and phenolic composition but also present opportunities for targeted breeding strategies aimed at enhancing desirable traits for wine production.

Tempranillo Tinto (TT) is the third-most planted red wine variety in the world, and it is mostly grown in the Iberian Peninsula. Spontaneous somatic variation appearing during vegetative propagation can be exploited to improve elite varieties as Tempranillo Tinto, including the selection of new phenotypes enhancing berry quality. We described previously that a somatic variant of TT with darker fruit color, the clone VN21, exhibits increased extractability of polyphenols during the winemaking process. To unravel the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we performed whole-genome resequencing to compare VN21 to other TT clones, revealing a 10 Mb deletion in chromosome 11 that likely affected only the L1 meristem cell layer of VN21 and tissues derived from it, such as external cell layers of berry skin. A putative loss-of-function allele of an ABCG32 gene (homologous to cuticle biogenesis transporters), was left hemizygous in this segment after the deletion in VN21. Scanning electron microscopy images suggested a lower content epi-cuticular wax in the berry cuticle of VN21, which likely leads to the shiny colour of VN21 berries. A GC-MS analysis of epi-cuticular waxes and cutins extracted from berry skin and leaves confirmed a general decrease in the accumulation of cuticle constituent compounds in VN21, supporting a role for the mutated ABCG32 transporter in the phenotype. Our findings show that somatic mutations altering berry cuticle biogenesis can have an effect on the extractability of polyphenols from the berry skin, which could be exploited for varietal wine innovation.

Serbia preserves a high number of local grape varieties, which have been cultivated across the country for centuries. Now, these ancient varieties are in the spotlight, and there is a global trend towards their recovery and characterization because they can revitalize regional, national and international grape and wine sectors. In addition, their genetic study can be useful to find new pedigree relationships to reveal how local varietal assortment evolved over time. Here, the genetic characterization of 138 grapevines from old Serbian vineyards revealed 59 different genetic profiles, 49 of which were identified as grapevine varieties whose origin in the country could be linked to some major Serbian historical periods. Most of the genetic profiles found in this work arranged in a complex pedigree network that integrates numerous grapevine varieties from diverse Balkan countries, agreeing with an intense exchange of plant material among Balkan regions for centuries. This analysis identified some varieties as important founders of Balkan genetic resources, like ‘Alba Imputotato’, ‘Braghina Rosie’, ‘Coarna Alba’, and ‘Vulpea’. After deepening into their genealogy, these major direct founders might have ultimately derived from ‘Visparola’, an ancient variety of likely Balkan origin with a major founding role in some European regions. Our results also indicated the genetic singularity of the grapevine resources from the Balkans when compared to those from other relevant winemaking regions, supporting the interest of their detailed study to evaluate their oenological potential and for the eventual identification of useful traits to counteract current viticulture challenges.

To preserve their varietal attributes, established grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. vinifera) must be clonally propagated, due to their highly heterozygous genomes. Malbec is a France-originated cultivar appreciated for producing high-quality wines and is the offspring of cultivars Prunelard and Magdeleine Noire des Charentes. Here, we have built a diploid genome assembly of Malbec, after trio binning of PacBio long reads into the two haploid complements inherited from either parent. After haplotype-aware deduplication and corrections, complete assemblies for the two haplophases were obtained with a very low haplotype switch-error rate (<0.025). The haplophase alignment identified > 25% of polymorphic regions. Gene annotation including RNA-seq transcriptome assembly and ab initio prediction evidence resulted in similar gene model numbers for both haplophases. The annotated diploid assembly was exploited in the transcriptomic comparison of four clonal accessions of Malbec that exhibited variation in berry composition traits. Analysis of the ripening pericarp transcriptome using either haplophases as a reference yielded similar results, although some differences were observed. Particularly, among the differentially expressed genes identified only with the Magdeleine-inherited haplotype as reference, we observed an over-representation of hypothetically hemizygous genes. The higher berry anthocyanin content of clonal accession 595 was associated with increased abscisic acid responses, possibly leading to the observed overexpression of phenylpropanoid metabolism genes and deregulation of genes associated with abiotic stress response. Overall, the results highlight the importance of producing diploid assemblies to fully represent the genomic diversity of highly heterozygous woody crop cultivars and unveil the molecular bases of clonal phenotypic variation.

The genetic erosion of the European grapevine diversity in the last century has promoted the conservation of varieties in germplasm banks to prevent their disappearance. The study of these varieties is necessary as it would allow the diversification of the wine market, as well as provide a source of genes to face new pathogens or climate constraints. In this work, the grapevine varieties preserved in the “Estación de Viticultura e Enoloxía de Galicia” (EVEGA) Germplasm Bank (Ourense, Spain) were widely characterized, combining ampelography, ampelometry, agronomy, and phytopathology. Moreover, genetic characterization was carried out through the analysis of 48 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A Bayesian analysis based on the SNP data was carried out to define the genetic structure of the EVEGA Germplasm Bank, which allowed the differentiation of two main reconstructed panmictic populations (RPPs), confirming previous results obtained based on microsatellite markers (SSRs). A great diversity between varieties was found for almost every parameter evaluated for ampelography, ampelometry, phytopatology, phenology, and berry quality. A principal component analysis (PCA) performed with these phenotypical data allowed discrimination among some groups of varieties included in different genetic populations. This study allowed us to evaluate the grapevine diversity maintained in the EVEGA Germplasm Bank and characterize varieties of potential value for breeding programs of interest for the Galician viticulture.

The accurate varietal identification is an essential requirement for every process involved in the exploitation of grapevine resources and derived products. The advancements achieved during the last years allowed the simultaneous analysis of multiple molecular markers capable of identifying grapevine varieties. Despite the establishment of a recommended set of nine microsatellite (SSR) markers for this purpose, their effective application with DNA extracted from must and wine samples remains a challenging task. This work aimed to develop High Resolution Melting (HRM) assays based on SSR markers applicable for grapevine varietal identification using leaf, must and wine samples. The grapevine varieties used were Cabernet Sauvignon, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Rufete. A total of 12 SSR markers were used to screen the varieties: nine markers recommended by the OIV (VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD25, VVMD27, VVMD28, VVMD32, VVS2, VrZAG62 and VrZAG79) and three markers selected based on their repeat motif and length (VvIv35, VChr5c and VChr9a). The results from multiplex PCR amplification of DNA from wine samples revealed that these three markers performed better than the nine established SSR markers. HRM assays were developed targeting markers VvIv35, VChr5c and VChr9a, successfully discriminating the varietal composition in must DNA samples. Promising results were obtained using wine DNA, where assay HRM-VChr9a proved to have the highest discriminant power. The HRM-SSR assays need to be applied in a larger number of varieties, to explore its suitability for grapevine fingerprinting applications throughout the wine chain. Overall, the proposed small SSR makers can be more suitable for wine DNA analysis. The HRM-SSR approach presented here provides fast results, allowing the complete discrimination of varietal composition in must DNA. It also shows to be a promising tool to discriminate the varieties using wine DNA, a task usually hampered by the inherent complexity of wine samples.

Grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. vinifera) must be clonally propagated because of their highly heterozygous genomes. Malbec, a France-originated cultivar appreciated for the production of high-quality wines, is the offspring of cultivars Prunelard and Magdeleine Noire des Charentes. Here, we have built a diploid genome assembly of Malbec, after trio binning of PacBio long reads into the two haploid complements inherited from either parent. After haplotype-aware deduplication and corrections, complete assemblies for the two haplophases were obtained with very low haplotype switch-error rate (<0.025). The haplophases alignment identified >25% of polymorphic regions. Gene annotation including RNA-seq transcriptome assembly and ab initio prediction evidence resulted in similar gene model numbers for both haplophases. The annotated diploid assembly was exploited in the transcriptomic comparison of four clonal accessions of Malbec that exhibited variation in berry composition traits. Analysis of the ripening pericarp transcriptome using either haplophases as reference yielded similar results, although some differences were observed. Particularly, among the differentially expressed genes in the Magdeleine-inherited haplotype, we observed an over-representation of hypothetically hemizygous genes. The higher berry anthocyanin content of clonal accession 595 was associated with increased abscisic acid responses, leading to overexpression of secondary metabolism genes and deregulation of genes associated to abiotic stress response. Overall, the results highlight the importance of producing diploid assemblies to fully represent the genomic diversity of highly heterozygous woody crop cultivars and to unveil the molecular bases of clonal phenotypic variation.

Authentication of grapevine cultivars, Vitis vinifera L., is difficult, especially when analytical specimens lack diagnostic ampelographic characters, which prevents the verification of traceability systems aimed at guaranteeing varietal integrity. This issue is problematic when viticultural strategies and regulations associated with high-value wine-producing geographical areas rely on extensive control and monitoring of valuable cultivars. Varietal identification based on grapevine molecular markers is a standardized methodology that requires a specialised laboratory for its application. In contrast, the use of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) allows DNA markers to be characterized quickly and easily, without the need for skilled personnel, allowing implementation in-situ or in-the-field. Simultaneous identification of the chlorotype and the interrogation of a single SNP using a portable device have allowed the first discrimination in-the-field of grafted grapevines, without appreciable ampelographic characters, as belonging to the valuable “Albariño” cultivar. This methodology constitutes a valuable tool for cultivar discrimination and can be efficiently implemented in the traceability of valuable grapevine genetic resources.

This work shows the location and study of relic populations of the Eurasian wild grapevine Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi in the Asturias region (NW of the Iberian Peninsula). The comprehensive study includes the descrip-tion of their habitats, of the main botanical supporters of these lianas and of the parasitic species causing them bi-ological stress, the ampelographic description of the pop-ulations, wine elaboration from bunches of female vines and a genetic study based on 240 nuclear SNP data. The results obtained have allowed to verify the abundance of this genetic resource in the eastern and central areas of the region. The species that support this liana were different depending on the position (alluvial, colluvial or coastal) of the populations. Several ampelographic differences have been confirmed between male and female individuals. The erineum strain of Colomerus vitis (Pagenstecher) (Acari, Eryophidae) and mildews were the most frequent parasitic species found in the populations. Berries presented a low sugar content, and wines a low alcoholic content and a high total polyphenol index and colour intensity. Feral Vitaceae were found accompanying some of the sylvestris popula-tions mainly in riverbanks and colluvial positions. The ge-netic study showed a clear distinction of the sylvestris vines from the most common grape varieties in the region, even though one of the sylvestris has a compatible parent-off-spring relationship with the variety 'Camaraou Noir'. The progressive reduction of this subspecies as a consequence of the human activities, plagues and diseases highlights the importance of regulating its conservation in order to avoid its extinction.