Scientists Embark on Grapevine Fingerprint Quest

According to US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist Mallikarjuna Aradhya, ARS is expecting the completion of its grapevine sequencing project next year. Nearly all of the 2,800 wild, rare and domesticated grape varieties in a genebank in northern California will have their genetic profile taken. These genetic profiles will help grape breeders pinpoint unusual characteristics, such as increased anthocyanin and resveratrol levels, which might appeal to shoppers in tomorrow's supermarkets.

Aradhya and his team have already fingerprinted 1,100 better-known grapes and 300 wild specimens. They are using pieces of DNA called microsatellites as genetic markers. Eight markers are all that are needed for a genetic fingerprint of more familiar grapes, like close relatives of those already used for making wine or raisins or for eating out-of-hand. Lesser-known grapes, on the other hand, require twice as many markers for reliable identification. Aradhya said that this is due in part, to the fact that the taxonomy, or relatedness of one kind of grape to another, is quite jumbled.

The complete article is available at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080826.htm