A Survey of Maltese Grapevine Germplasm Using SSR Markers

The paper reports the results of a project of recovery and molecular characterization aimed at identifying the local vine varieties cultivated on the archipelago of Malta. A total of 58 accessions from the two major islands, Malta and Gozo, were sampled within the framework of a clonal and sanitary selection program. DNA analyses were conducted using 13 SSR markers and the profiles obtained compared with the CRA-VIT archive. A total of 28 different genotypes were identified, eight of which correspond to imported varieties: Ansonica, Axina de tres bias, Calabrese, Gold, Koenigin der weingaerten, Muscat fleur d'oranger, Muscat Hamburg, and Negroamaro. Reference SSR profiles have been produced for the most important local varieties, Girgentina (Insolja tal-Girgenti), Gellewza, and Gennarua (Insolja ta' Gennaru).