Microsatellite database of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars used for wine production in Portugal

six nuclear microsatellite loci (vvmd 5, vvmd 7, vvmd 27, vrzag 62, vrzag 79 and vvs 2) were chosen to study the differentiation of 313 grapevine cultivars officially authorized for wine production in portugal (portaria no 428/2000, diário da república no 163, 17th july 2000). these loci were found to be highly informative and therefore constitute a useful marker set for the discrimination of the targeted cultivars. this study allowed identifying 244 distinct genotypes and seventeen other genotypes represented, each, by 2 to 6 cultivars (synonymous) in a total of 40 cultivars. additionally, 29 cultivars are distributed in 11 distinct sets, the cultivars of each set having identical ssrs profile but different berry colour and, so, should be considered as distinct cultivars. this work will contribute to improve the management of the portuguese grapevine national collection and will also give a good technical support for the update of the list of cultivars officially authorized for wine production in portugal (portaria no 428/2000). furthermore, it will also be a useful support, in the future, for the control of plant material. the ssr database will be available at the web page of instituto nacional de recursos biológicos (inrb) www.inrb.pt