A multidisciplinary team, led by Montenegrin and Spanish researchers, recently published in the prestigious international scientific journal Scientific Reports (nature.com) the results of the most extensive grapevine research ever conducted in Montenegro.
The paper presents the richness of the genetic heritage of the grapevine in Montenegro, which continues to create a very rich diversity within the Vitis vinifera species, enriching domestic and European viticulture and winemaking.
This research is the result of many years of work of the company "13. jul Plantaža" and its Development Sector headed by prof. Dr. Vesno Maraš and cooperation with the world's leading scientific centers in Spain, Canada and Slovenia. Montenegrin researchers with a scientific team from the Institute for Vine and Wine from Spain - ICVV (Logronjo, La Rioja) led by Prof. Dr. Jose Miguel Martinez Zapatero, Dr. Javier Ibanez and Dr. Rafael Osete, with the participation of prof. Miodrag Grbić from the University of Canada, Prof. Dr. Nataša Štajner from the University of Ljubljana, members of the National Association of Vintners and Winemakers of Montenegro, producers of grapes and wine in Montenegro, realized this extremely important research for the viticulture and winemaking of Montenegro.
In this research, which began in 2013, strong cooperation between the economy and academic institutions and relevant ministries (Ministry of Science and Ministry of Agriculture) was achieved in our country. The most important institutions in the field of science and higher education in Montenegro were involved in the project, such as the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts (CANU), the University of Montenegro and the University of Donja Gorica.
Long-term research has shown that the process of domesticating the grapevine, which began 8.000 years ago, is still continuing in the vineyards of Montenegro, where the genetic connection between wild forms and cultivated grapevine varieties was discovered. These research results confirm that the process of domestication of the grapevine, which until now was believed to be complete, is continuous, and that there are several generations of separation between the wild and cultivated subspecies and that the genetic thread between them is still active. are at the same evolutionary point as those that began to be cultivated 8000 years ago. Representatives of all levels of grapevine domestication were found, but we were especially surprised by samples that are almost 100% wild from a genetic point of view, and were grown just like any cultivated vine.
In addition to wild vines of the subspecies sylvestris - the ancestor of cultivated grapevines (sativa), we also found vines of cultivated plants with a similar percentage of origin from sativa and sylvestris genetic subgroups (such as the unknown white Jelenak, Loznica-2. Local hybridization processes between wild and domesticated and introduced varieties are contributed to a large extent to the modification of the existing - current varieties in each wine-growing region, and thus to the typicality of their wines.
The research also revealed the varietal structure and viticultural history of Montenegro, confirming a surprising diversity for one of the smallest European countries. Part of such a great diversity indicates and confirms the local history itself, which indicates multiple and intensive introductions of vines from different wine regions in different historical periods. The discovered genetic pool includes many autochthonous varieties, some on the edge of existence (extinction), connected in a complex kinship network where two varieties (razaklia and kratosija) played the main role in the creation of autochthonous varieties.
As part of the research, 476 cultivated and wild vines, aged from 50 to 300 years, were analyzed. Each analyzed shack has its own original code under which it is managed, photos, local name (the name of the field under which it was found), and the name of the shack owner, as well as location data (region, altitude, GPS coordinates) are also recorded. 419 vines were isolated from the vineyards of Montenegro (379 vines grown in old vineyards - Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa and 45 vines that grow wild in nature, assuming that they belong to the wild vine - subspecies sylvestris). The research also included 57 accessions from the vine collection at the Biotechnical Faculty's Experimental Estate, which was built in 1956/60. by academician Marko Ulićević and his associates. The collection was built in order to preserve local and autochthonous cultivated grape varieties. Genomic technologies were crucial for determining genetic relatedness between Montenegrin varieties and establishing pedigrees that showed parentage between autochthonous varieties.
The DNA of each selected vine was analyzed and compared at the Institute of Vine and Wine (ICVV) with their SNP (molecular marker) database, which is unique in its size worldwide. In this way, 144 different genetic profiles were confirmed, among which 101 genotypes corresponded to cultivated varieties (Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa), and 43 genotypes corresponded to wild forms (Vitis silvestris).
Consequently, 2 clusters were formed and analyzed, namely the cluster of cultivated grape varieties and the cluster of wild vines in Montenegro.
In the cluster of cultivated varieties, we found an unexpectedly high genetic variability, revealing 101 genotypes - varieties. Fifty varieties could be identified, among which are well-known wine (29), table (6) and multi-purpose grape varieties (15). It was established that a large number of these varieties are autochthonous varieties of the Western Balkans, and the two most important varieties for Montenegrin viticulture (Kratoshija and Vranac) are the two most frequently found genotypes in old Montenegrin vineyards, which confirms their importance and importance for the viticulture and winemaking sector of Montenegro throughout the long history. Among the 419 examined samples, the most frequently found genotype corresponded to the Kratošija variety, which was found 107 times, followed by vranac (76), fox (35), razaklia (27), cruciferous (22) and bioka (8). It is important to point out that of the 45 identified varieties in the collection of the Faculty of Biotechnology, a large number (33) of genotypes are preserved only in the collection, which indicates the rapid disappearance of old varieties and highlights the importance of these studies in order to preserve local genetic resources from extinction.
In addition, we have identified a significant number of foreign varieties, confirming historical sources that indicate a turbulent history and events in Montenegro that enabled the introduction of varieties from different regions into the country at different times and with different goals. The introduction from the East is probably a consequence of the spread of viticulture from the Middle East region to Western European countries, while more recent introductions mainly followed the intensive exchange of varieties during the second half of the 19th century in the fight against phylloxera and other pests and diseases in Europe.
The results of this research reveal 51 unidentified (unknown) grapevine genotypes, which represent potentially new varieties. Nine of them (black crucifer, white, vine of Saint Vasilij Ostroški, unknown white Brijestovo, white large SR, etc.) were found in at least two locations, which confirms that they were propagated vegetatively (by cuttings), that they were grown as local varieties and that are on the verge of extinction.
Interestingly, it was found that some of the unidentified genotypes are descendants of other known local varieties (eg Belka is a descendant of razaklia and krusača, black krusača is a descendant of kratosia and bioka), which indicates their Montenegrin origin. A particular curiosity is the determination of the genetics of the vine from the Ostrog monastery (the lineage of St. Basil of Ostrog), which dates according to written data from 1672, which is one of the oldest written data on grape vines in Montenegro and the Balkans.
Scientific analysis has confirmed that this vine is an unknown variety that is the result of crossing an old razaklia variety with a grape variety under the name kosoranka (found near the monastery) which is in the Vitis catalog under the name Vela Pergola. The remaining 42 unidentified genotypes appeared only once in the sampling of cultivated varieties, namely 28 in the vineyards of Montenegro (white unknown, white unknown deer, black vine, black unknown Crmnica, black unknown Masline, unknown white Gornji Brčeli, unknown white Gornji Morinj, unknown Brijege, unknown Kosić, unknown Kuči, unknown Piperi, unknown Žabljak and others), and 14 were found only in the collection of the Faculty of Biotechnology under the names white nameless, white small berries, white sweet from brick, cetinka, black Tomba, Ćelinac, Duljenga, oxen from Opeka, ash, etc.
Some of them may also represent autochthonous varieties, as indicated by the genetic identification of descendants of some of these varieties (for example, the black unknown Masline is a descendant of the Volovina variety from Opeka). An additional specialty of Montenegrin viticulture is the current presence of a significant number of alleged "primitive varieties". This term denotes plants grown only by local grape producers, i.e. plants that grow directly from seeds or are propagated only once by cuttings, from the place of seed germination. They can be further multiplied and distributed, thus becoming varieties. This is how most varieties were created in the past, but this process is no longer active in Western European regions.
The results of the research confirmed that Montenegrin viticulture is based on a family of genetically related varieties, which is also characteristic of other famous traditional regions for the cultivation of vines and wine production. In Montenegro, this family is mainly created around the Kratošija variety.
Kratošija is in the center of Montenegrin viticulture such as Cabernet franc and Pinot noir in the center of Bordeaux and Burgundy, famous wine growing regions in France. Kratošija is also the oldest variety cultivated in Montenegro, it has almost 20 descendants in Montenegro and is the parent (father) of the Vranac variety. In addition to the crow, some of the descendants of kratosia in Montenegro are chubrica, račeška, žitkovina, black cross, black vine, black Tomba and others. In this study, we found the full pedigree of the crow and determined that it is a descendant of dulenga and cratosia, and confirmed its autochthonousness and origin in the best way.
When it comes to the cluster analysis of the wild Vitis sylvestris vine population, all samples (43) carry unique genotypes. In this study, plants of the sylvestris subspecies were found that were grown in old vineyards, but from a genetic point of view it was discovered that they are completely wild - sylvestris (a shorter road to Zagarč and unknown Crmnica). On the other hand, six individuals were discovered that were investigated as wild vines, and the results show that they have a higher sativa than sylvestris genetic composition: (wild vines from Oraha and Meteriz, wild vines from the localities of Rijeka Crnovića, Oraha and Kamenik).
Samples of cultivated plants with a similar percentage of origin of sativa and sylvestris genetic subgroups were also found (white unknown Jelenak, Loznica-2, etc.). It is believed that the white unknown Jelenak and Loznica-2 are examples of active mechanisms of introgression (transfer of genes from one species to another) from sylvestris to new varieties.
These hybrids between the two subspecies were probably very important in many viticultural areas, where wild vines made an important contribution to the genetic pool of cultivated varieties.
All these results represent traces of the first steps in the creation of new varieties or even the secondary domestication of wild vines. It is like a window into the past that allows us to better understand the roots of Montenegrin viticulture. Overall, this research has incredible significance for Montenegrin viticulture, winemaking, history and agriculture, emphasizing Montenegro as the cradle of viticulture in the Balkans. The obtained results answered the question of what are the comparative advantages of Montenegro in the world of wine, and why Kratošija is the oldest grape variety in Montenegro, but also the oldest name for that grape variety that is grown abroad under the name primitivo/zinfandel/crljenak Kastelanski/. The parents of the vranac variety were discovered, which confirmed its origin.
51 unknown varieties of vines were discovered, which represent the potential for viticulture and winemaking in our country as new autochthonous varieties, enriching the assortment of Montenegrin wines and positioning Montenegro as an attractive wine destination in Europe and the world.
This genomic research enabled the recording and cataloging of the genetic diversity of the grapevine in Montenegro and presented a detailed pedigree - the origin of the varieties and their mutual genetic connections. As a result of these researches, Montenegro has the most modern genetic and genomic scientific facts - data for its specific autochthonous viticulture, which is crucial for the scientific, professional, development and marketing promotion of this strategic branch of Montenegrin agriculture.
The research was really extensive, but we only discovered the tip of the iceberg. We realized that huge treasures are still hidden in our neglected and forgotten vineyards, on the walls, next to collapsed houses and vaults in the courtyards of churches and monasteries. That's why we again invite everyone to contact us, not only winegrowers, but also all those who search historical buildings, private archives, archaeological sites and to share with us information regarding grape varieties, grape and wine production in our country. All this is significant because it is part of our tradition, the importance of which we are often not always aware. Wine has been and remains a part of Montenegrin tradition, religion, culture and customs for centuries. It is not just a drink and food, but represents the history and culture of a country.
Prof. Dr. Vesna Maraš
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
