abstract Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were employed to detect the genetic diversityamong 70 grape accessions including 52 clones of 17 Chinese wild grape species, seveninterspecific hybrids, 10 Vitis vinifera L. cultivars, and one strain of Vitis riparia L. A total of119 polymorphic bands with an average of 11.9 per primer were observed. The unweightedpair-group method (UPGMA) analysis indicated that the 70 clones or accessions hada similarity range from 0.08 to 0.93, indicating that abundant diversities exist among theseaccessions. Based on cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis, all accessions couldbe divided into two major groups, the Chinese wild grape group, and the American andEuropean cultivar group. The largest distance was found among V. riparia MichX, Vitispiasezkii, V. vinifera L. interspecific hybrid (Vitis binifera V. labrusca) and the wild grapesnative to China. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. IntroductionGrape(Vitis vinifera L.)is one of theoldest and mostimportant fruit crops in theworld.The Vitisgenus contains more than70 species, with centers of origin in south Europe, Asia Minor, East Asia, and North and Central America (Wan et al., 2008).China is one of the major germplasm centers of Vitis species and more than 35 Vitis species originate in China (Wan et al.,2008). Chinese wild Vitis has many useful characteristics, including (i) high quality wine making attributes, such as highsugar content and moderate acidity (Li and He, 2000); (ii) high level of resistance to fungal diseases, including PowderyMildew [Uncinula necator (Schw.) Burr.], Anthracnose [Elsinoe ampelina (de Barry) Shear], Ripe Rot [Glomerella cingulata(Ston.) Spauld et Schrenk], and Crown Gall [Agrobacterium tumefaciens Smith and Townsend] (He et al., 1991; Wang et al.,1995, 2007; Wang, 1979); (iii) highly efficient photosynthesis in V. quinquangularis (Zhu et al., 1994). In addition, Chinesewild Vitis can be easily crossed with American Vitis species, and the undesirable “foxy” flavor compounds in the berries ofAmerican Vitis species is nonexistent in Chinese wild Vitis species (He, 1999b; Wan et al., 2008). The selection for thesedesirable characteristics has enlarged the scope of applications for grape breeding, which results in many intermediate andtransitional types of Vitis and causes difficulties in germplasm research of the wild Chinese Vitis.