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Research Group members of Plant Genetics and Immunology, Institute of Molecular Biology of National Academy of Sciences RA Kristine Margaryan and Garik Melyan have authored an academic research on Genetic diversity of Armenian grapevine published in the scientific journal of Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)  

The study is the first most representative and comprehensive analysis of Armenian grape germplasm and one of the major goals of study was to evaluate the level and relationships of existing genetic diversity across Armenia, aiming to identify genotypes that could provide genetic insights into the Armenian grapevine germplasm structure.

According to the study abstract, the existence of immense grapevine biodiversity in Armeniais strongly linked with unique relief and diverse climate conditions assembled with millennium-lasting cultural and historical context. In the present in-depth study using 25 nSSR markers, 492 samples collected in old vineyards, home gardens, and private collections were genotyped. For verification of cultivar identity, the symbiotic approach combining genotypic and phenotypic characterization for each genotype was carried out. The study provided 221 unique varieties, including 5 mutants, from which 66 were widely grown, neglected or minor autochthonous grapevine varieties, 49 turned out to be new bred cultivars created within the national breeding programs mainly during Soviet Era and 34 were non-Armenian varieties with different countries of origin. No references and corresponding genetic profiles existed for 67 genotypes.