Province Of Huesca Research Articles

Ampelography and microsatellite DNA analysis of autochthonous and endangered grapevine cultivars in the province of Huesca (Spain)

The province of Huesca (Spain) is a traditional area for growing grapevines. There are archaeological evidences of their cultivation at least since the second century B.C. Nevertheless, in the last years the varietal diversity is markedly decreasing due to the rooting out of old plantations that are replaced with new broadly known varieties, since the market demands a certain standardization of the wine producing varieties. The objective of this study is to examine and characterise the existing varieties in the province of Huesca, mainly in vineyards planted before 1960. A total of 47 accessions were collected in 14 plots from 11 municipalities. Moreover 36 accessions from the region, planted at the Movera grapevine germplasm bank (Movera collection), located at Zaragoza (Spain) were included in the study. Ampelographic characterisation was carried out with 50 OIV descriptors for two consecutive years. Molecular characterisation was made with the following microsatellites: VVS2, VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD27, VrZAG62 and VrZAG79. Ampelographic results were compared by cluster analysis. Most of the accessions were identified, being considered as new varieties: two white, Carrillera and Moscatel, and six red or black: Macicillo, Bomogastro, Angelina, Terrer, Parraleta Roja and Garnacha Gorda. Several new synonymies were detected, as Miguel for Vitadillo or Parrel for Trepat. Seven accessions remained unidentified. Out of the studied Vitis vinifera varieties, 23 were considered as endangered, indicating the valuable patrimony of the zone to be preserved.

A paleomagnetic investigation of Permo-Tiiassic red beds and andesites from the Spanish Pyrenees

Fourteen samples of Permo-Triassic andesites and eight samples of Permo-Triassic red beds were collected in the upper Aragon Subordan valley (province of Huesca, Spanish Pyrenees). The measurements were done with an astatic magnetometer, and ac demagnetization was applied to test for stability. The sediments acquired a strong, stable magnetization in post-Alpine times; the original direction of magnetization could not be detected. The magnetic directions of the andesites, on the other hand, probably are caused by thermoremanent magnetism. The pole position is 133°W, 51°N, which differs by about 60° from the mean value of Permian poles determined in northern and central Europe. The best explanation for the difference in the location of the Pyrenean pole and north European pole positions seems to be that there was a northwesterly drift of the western Pyrenees in post-Permian time. Similar results from the Spanish Pyrenees and the Italian Alps suggest that the part of the crust involved in this drifting extended from at least the western Pyrenees to the Italian Alps.