Preliminary study of somatic variants of palomino fino (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in a warm climate region (Andalusia, Spain)

Abstract

Vegetative propagation of Vitis vinifera cultivars over hundreds of years has led to the accumulation of a large number of somatic variants of the same grapevine variety. These variants are now considered a working tool to cope with changing environmental conditions as a result of, among others, global warming. In this work, three somatic variants of the major grapevine variety of the South West (SW) of Andalusia (Spain), Palomino Fino, have been genetically and morphologically characterized, as well as their grape musts from two different vintages. The genetic analysis at 22 microsatellite loci confirmed the identity of the three somatic variants that presented the same genotype as Palomino Fino, while the morphological study showed differences between the three somatic variants and Palomino Fino, highlighting the somatic variant Palomino Pelusón. Regarding the physicochemical analysis of its musts, differences were also observed between the somatic variants and Palomino Fino. As a result of all of the above, the use of grapes from somatic variants can be a viable and natural alternative for the production of quality wines in warm climate areas. On the other hand, promoting the cultivation of the somatic variants could contribute to preventing the loss of Palomino Fino intraspecific variability.