Detection of grapevine synonyms in Lombardy and Piedmont regions (northern Italy)

The Italian viticulture is characterized by a high number of autochthonous varieties (about 1700), some of them renowned throughout the Country, some other only of local importance. Nevertheless, the real estimation of this biodiversity is made difficult due to the great amount of synonyms, homonyms and misnomers. The aim of this work was to undertake a comparison for varietal identity of minor, lesser cultivars in two field collections of neighboring regions (Lombardy and Piedmont) located in northern Italy, verifying synonyms in different areas. Forty-seven accessions were described by morphological (OIV descriptors) and genetic (microsatellites) characteristics. Thirty-eight varieties were identified belonging to three categories: varieties of great importance in Italy and locally misnamed, varieties important in the region of Piedmont and misnamed in Lombardy, and currently minor grapes but of historical significance in both Piedmont and Lombardy regions.