Microclonal propagation of elite industrial grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.)

Background. The grape is one of the most economically significant berry crops: its cultivation area covers over 6.7 million hectares. Due to certain biological characteristics of grapes, such as a long juvenile period (5–8 years), a high degree of genomic heterozygosity, and the frequently encountered phenomenon of inbred depression, when homozygotization during hybridization leads to a loss of viability and production characteristics of the cultivar, vegetative propagation becomes the basis for grape reproduction and industrial cultivation. Microclonal propagation is the foundation for rejuvenation and revitalization of modern vineyards. Developing approaches for microclonal propagation of elite industrial grape cultivars remains a relevant task for the modern wine industry.

Materials and methods. The industrial grape cultivars ‘Malbec’, ‘Merlot’, ‘Chardonnay’, and ‘Riesling’ from the field collection of the All-Russian National Research institute of Viticulture and Winemaking “Magarach” were used for the work.

Results. This research succeeded in devising a universal, one-stage protocol for the microclonal propagation of elite industrial grape cultivars, such as ‘Merlot’, ‘Chardonnay’, ‘Malbec’, and ‘Riesling’, making the production of plants ready for adaptation into the soil (ex vitro) within 1 months after rooting.

Conclusion. The use of the microclonal propagation protocol developed in this study for industrial grape cultivars will reduce labor costs and shorten the time required to obtain a plant ready for adaptation to open ground two to three times.

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