Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Geneva, New York » Grape Genetics Research Unit (GGRU) » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #429835
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of Grape Quality and Adaptation to Diseases and Abiotic Stress

Location: Grape Genetics Research Unit (GGRU)

Title: Population analysis of the USDA-ARS vitis repository with rhAmpSeq markers

Author
item Herniter, Ira
item Galarneau, Erin
item Gutierrez, Benjamin
item Cadle Davidson, Lance
item ZOU, CHENG - Sunworld International
item SUN, QI - Cornell Institute Of Biotechnology, Cornell University
item Zhong, Gan-Yuan
item Gouker, Fred

Submitted to: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/2026
Publication Date: 4/13/2026
Citation: Herniter, I.A., Galarneau, E.R., Gutierrez, B.L., Cadle Davidson, L.E., Zou, C., Sun, Q., Zhong, G., Gouker, F.E. 2026. Population analysis of the USDA-ARS vitis repository with rhAmpSeq markers. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 151(3), 243-253. https://doi.org/10.21273/jashs05569-25.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/jashs05569-25

Interpretive Summary: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Plant Germplasm Service (NPGS), maintains a large collection of grapes in Geneva, NY and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have used new genetic sequencing data to study the genetic relationships among various grapevines, including European wine grapes, wild species from North American, and hybrids. The results from this study provide evidence for a North American origin of grapes and identify some plants that were previously misidentified. The research emphasizes the significance of this grape collection as a "living library" for future studies and a source of material for breeding more resilient grape varieties resistant to pests and diseases.

Technical Abstract: Grape (Vitis spp.) is an economically and culturally significant crop grown in a wide array of climates, including cooler areas which regularly experience freezing temperatures. To better adapt grapes for cultivation in cooler climates, wild grape relatives and hybrids have been and continue to be used in breeding efforts. The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service maintains a collection of cultivated and wild cold-hardy grapes in Geneva, NY, USA. This collection contains over a dozen species, mostly of North American origin, as well as an extensive set of hybrid breeding lines and cultivars. Here, we demonstrate the genetic variation present in the collection using newly developed rhAmpSeq markers to explore phylogenetic relationships. Our findings match previous analyses, showing Eurasian species nested within the North American species, suggesting a North American origin for the Vitis genus. In addition, analysis of ancestry and genetic distance suggested taxonomic identities for 18 previously unidentified accessions and for 36 putatively misidentified accessions. The data presented here advances understanding of the Vitis clade and provides support for ongoing research, conservation, and breeding efforts.