ARS | Publication request: Use of Genetic Markers to Assess Pedigrees of Grape Cultivars and Breeding Program Selections

Submitted to: American Journal of Enology and Viticulture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: February 25, 2008
Publication Date: October 4, 2008
Citation: Bautista, J., Dangl, G., Yang, J., Reisch, B., Stover, E.W. 2008. Use of Genetic Markers to Assess Pedigrees of Grape Cultivars and Breeding Program Selections. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture. 59:248-254.

Interpretive Summary: In breeding new plant varieties, the plant breeder often uses results from earlier hybridizations to guide future efforts. However, there are sometimes mistakes in records or intrusion of foreign pollen which may mislead future breeding efforts. In this project, DNA markers were used to assess parentages for grape varieties released from the Cornell breeding program. As expected, most (20 of 24) reported parents were confirmed. Suffolk Red and Glenora were shown to be progeny of Black Kishmish and not Black Monukka. The advanced selection NY 63.0970.07 is a hybrid of Pinot noir, not Gamay, x Chancellor. Vignoles (Ravat 51) is not descended from the reported parentage of Seibel 6905 x Pinot noir.

Technical Abstract: In a plant breeding program, an accurate understanding of pedigrees provides useful guidance for future hybridizations. However, plant breeders' records occasionally contain errors which may mislead future breeding efforts, and there is considerable value in independently testing reported pedigrees. In this project, SSR markers were used to confirm or correct pedigrees for grape varieties from the Cornell breeding program and a few key varieties used as parents. As expected, most (20 of 24) reported pedigrees were confirmed. Recognizing a heritable null allele from Ontario, at VVMD25, was necessary for parent progeny analysis of several varieties. Suffolk Red and Glenora were shown to be progny of Black Kishmish and not Black Monukka. The advanced selection NY 63.0970.07 is a hybrid of Pinot noir, not Gamay, x Chancellor. Vignoles (Ravat 51) is not descended from the reported parentage of Seibel 6905 x Pinot noir.