Molecular characterisation of the current cultivars of <i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. in Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain) reveals nine individuals which correspond to eight new varieties and two new sports

Abstract

Vine was reintroduced to the volcanic island of Lanzarote (Spain) more than 300 years ago. The phylloxera plague has never reached the island; consequently, Vitis vinifera L. has evolved continuously since then due to the influence of some abiotic factors, such as low rainfall and strong winds. The aim of this study was to determine the inter- and intra-varietal diversity of the island’s vines and the potential evolution of singularity. Two hundred and twenty-three samples were genotyped with 20 SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats). The following results were obtained from these analyses: 8 new varieties (Blanca de la granja del cabildo (W), Burra chinija (W), Diego chinija (W), Lemes del Cabezo (W), Malvasia alistanada fina (W), Malvasia alistanada rustica (W) (a mutation of Malvasia alistanada fina), Sinforiano chano (Rs), Uvillón negro (R), Vijariego blanco de la granja (W)), and 2 new sports (Chasselas lajiares (Rs) and Diego de El Raso rosado (Rs)). In addition, scientific studies on varieties from the island of Lanzarote describe four local cultivars: Breval negro (Rg), Malvasia volcanica (W), Torrontes volcanico (W) and Uva de año (R), which means that a total of 12 local varieties and 2 colour mutations have been described for this Atlantic island. It should also be noted that the appearance of 100 new molecular profiles with their corresponding names represents an unprecedented lexical enrichment. Lanzarote can be considered a centre of biodiversity, as is the Canary archipelago as a whole. Their vines have evolved to such an extent that they are now genetically different from the original populations. The vines from Lanzarote could be of great interest to the wine sector, as they can act as a nursery from which better-adapted vines can be obtained to mitigate the effects of climate change.