Evolution of wild and feral vines from the Ega river gallery forest (Basque country and Navarra, Spain) from 1995 to 2015

  1. Elena Meléndez Álvarez 1
  2. Pedro María Puras Maestu 1
  3. José Luis García 2
  4. Manuel Cantos Barragán 2
  5. Juan Antonio Gómez Rodríguez 1
  6. Montserrat Íñiguez Crespo 1
  7. Álvaro Rodríguez Miranda 3
  8. José Manuel Valle Melón 3
  9. Claire Arnold 4
  10. Carlos Alvar Ocete Pérez 5
  11. Rafael Ocete Rubio 5
  1. 1 Gobierno de La Rioja. Estación Enológica de Haro
  2. 2 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - CSIC. Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología
  3. 3 Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
    info

    Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

    Lejona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/000xsnr85

  4. 4 University of Lausanne
    info

    University of Lausanne

    Lausana, Suiza

    ROR https://ror.org/019whta54

  5. 5 Universidad de Sevilla. Laboratorio de Entomología Aplicada
Revista:
OENO ONE: Journal international des sciences de la vigne et du vin = International journal of vine and wine sciences

ISSN: 1151-0285

Año de publicación: 2016

Volumen: 50

Número: 2

Páginas: 65-75

Tipo: Artículo

Otras publicaciones en: OENO ONE: Journal international des sciences de la vigne et du vin = International journal of vine and wine sciences

Resumen

Aims: The present paper is focused on wild and feral grapevines from the Ega River gallery forest (Alder grove), one of the most important tributaries of the Ebro River. Since this area was preliminary prospected in 1995, it was our intention to assess the evolution of the ecosystem during this time. Methods and results: Ampelographic description of wild grapevines shows that all male plants had flowers with fully developed stamens and no gynoecium. No hermaphrodite individuals were detected. No virus infection and symptoms caused by Phylloxera on roots were detected. The Erineum strain of Colomerus vitis constitutes the main phytophagous arthropod. Damages caused by powdery and downy mildew were not lethal for the vines. Around 73% of the wild grapevine individuals found in 1995 had disappeared due to human impacts. The number of rootstocks and producer hybrids (French hybrids) had increased in this period by about 30%. Microvinification of wild berries yielded a wine with very high color intensity and total polyphenol index with a low pH. Conclusion: The wild grapevine population described has suffered a dramatic regression in the 20-year period between prospections, together with a significant increase of feral accessions thus endangering the endurance of the ecosystem and remaining wild grapevine. Significance and impact of the study : Wild grapevines are a valuable genetic resource for the genetic improvement of cultivated vines. However, our study shows that human impacts and increasing pressure of feral accessions are threatening wild grapevine populations.