Biochemical and molecular characterization of vine (Vitis vinifera L.) genetic resources of Bolu region

This thesis study was carried out to evaluate the genetic resources of the grapevines that have been grown in Bolu for many years. In the study, pomological properties (cluster and berry properties), biochemical contents (phenolics and organic acid contents) and kinship relations of the local grapevines were determined. Average berry weights of genotypes were determined between 2.21 g (Ü34) - 6.49 g (Ü12), berry length 15.11 mm (Ü34) - 29.30 mm (Ü33), berry width 13.15 mm (Ü2) - 22, 01 mm (Ü12). The presence of seeds was detected in all of the studied genotypes and there was no evidence that seedless grapes were grown in the region. The average pH values of the genotypes were determined between 2.99 (Ü3) - 3.69 (Ü12). The TSS content was between 11.40% (Ü3) - 20.10% (Ü8). In terms of average cluster weight, Ü34 (60.57 g) and Ü29 (96.96 g) genotypes remained below 100 g, while Ü22 (413.86 g), Ü19 (431.42 g), Ü15 (463, 13 g) and Ü16 (466.38 g) genotypes were found to be the highest in terms of this feature, with cluster weights over 400 g. The mean TA amounts of the genotypes were determined between 2.45% (Ü18) and 7.40% (Ü9). In molecular analysis, Bolu province's vines separated from standard varieties to a large extent and formed a separate group. Most of the molecular variance (91%) occurred within the population. It has been determined that the fruits of genotypes are rich in phenolics and organic acids. While the genotypes were different from each other in terms of biochemical contents, the effect of fruit color on most of the phenolic substances and organic acids was found to be insignificant. It has been observed that tartaric acid has a strong positive relationship (r = 0,78) with malic acid among organic acids. Malic acid has also been positively associated with fumaric acid. One of the phenolic acids, gallic acid was positively correlated with catechin, while it had a negative relationship with chlorogenic, ferucic and o-coumaric acid. A strong positive relationship was found between ferulic acid and routine content. Relationships between fruit characteristics of genotypes were determined by correlation. Fruit weight had a strong relationship with fruit size and cluster weight with cluster size. While TSS was only related with pH, acidity values (TEA and pH) were associated with each other and color properties. The L value (brightness) was determined to have strong positive or negative relationships with all other color properties. The peduncle length was negatively correlated with fruit color characteristics (except Hue). Genotypes were divided into different regions as a result of PCA analysis. Tarataric acid (0.41) had the greatest effect on PC1 and gallic acid on PC2 (0.42) in PCA analysis on biochemical contents. In the analysis on pomological properties, while the cluster weight made the highest effect on PC1 (0.36), PC2 was mostly defined by color values. Genotypes are divided into four different groups in cluster analysis with pomological characteristics. In the cluster analysis made with the biochemical contents of the genotypes, genotypes were divided into four different groups. However, the U35 genotype alone constituted the third group and completely separated from other genotypes. As a result of the study, it was determined that there are quite superior genotypes that can compete with the standard vine varieties in terms of fruit and cluster quality in Bolu province vines. It is stated that iPBS retrotransposon markers can be used effectively in genetic diversity analysis to be performed on vines. It was observed that the local people were not meticulous in naming the products, and this situation showed that local varieties in Bolu and other regions should be breeded by clone selection and different genotypes should be identified and recorded. iPBS markers used in this research can be used successfully in selection studies. This study guides similar studies to be conducted in terms of the methods used and data analysis.