Folk bred grape cultivars in Central Asia

Abstract

Central Asia is one of the largest and most important genetic centers of origin of many cultivated plants, especially fruit plants, including grapes (Vitis vinifera L.). Some local forms have survived to this day in their pristine condition thanks to the attachment of peoples to ‘their’ varieties. This original assortment, which naturally attracts interest of researchers, helped to determine the areas of folk bred varieties concentration in Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Studies of landraces started as early as the beginning of the 20th century. Very prominent botanists, namely Mikhail Grigorievich Popov, Pavel Aleksandrovich Baranov, Ivan Tikhonovich Vassilczenko and others, studied the diversity and regional adaptation of V. vinifera. Ancient grape landraces of Central Asia contain forms with large clusters and berries. Extremely valuable seedless and ultra-early varieties are often found here.As a result of our surveys, we collected more than 700 local cultivars and wild forms of grapes. All the gathered samples are subjected to a comprehensive study in order to identify their economically valuable traits and properties. This made it possible to identify individual cultivars that can be used on the industrial scale.