The genomes of 204 Vitis vinifera accessions reveal the origin of European wine grapes.

Gabriele Magris, Irena Jurman, Alice Fornasiero, Eleonora Paparelli, Rachel Schwope, Fabio Marroni, Gabriele Di Gaspero, Michele Morgante

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

In order to elucidate the still controversial processes that originated European wine grapes from its wild progenitor, here we analyse 204 genomes of Vitis vinifera and show that all analyses support a single domestication event that occurred in Western Asia and was followed by numerous and pervasive introgressions from European wild populations. This admixture generated the so-called international wine grapes that have diffused from Alpine countries worldwide. Across Europe, marked differences in genomic diversity are observed in local varieties that are traditionally cultivated in different wine producing countries, with Italy and France showing the largest diversity. Three genomic regions of reduced genetic diversity are observed, presumably as a consequence of artificial selection. In the lowest diversity region, two candidate genes that gained berry-specific expression in domesticated varieties may contribute to the change in berry size and morphology that makes the fruit attractive for human consumption and adapted for winemaking.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalNature communications
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 21 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Chemistry
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The genomes of 204 Vitis vinifera accessions reveal the origin of European wine grapes.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this