General

Archaeological records show that the cultivation of vines in Malta dates as far back as Carthaginian era, around 300 BC. Trade links through the Mediterranean linked Malta to many of the major grape growing regions, so it is not surprising that over 120 varieties of grape were present on the islands at one time.

Synergene has been contracted by the Malta Department of Agriculture (Viticulture & Oenology Division) to assist in a project for the genetic conservation of the grapevine in Malta. There are two main groups of indigenous varieties in the Maltese Islands: Gellewza, which is a red variety, and Girgentina, which is a white. About 70% of the total vineyard area in Malta is dedicated to these varieties.

A comprehensive study to classify the various local varieties and relate them to vine varieties in other countries has not been carried out to date. Through a EU funded project, the Department of Agriculture has now entered into an agreement with Synergene to carry out DNA analysis on a collection of different cultivars. These were identified through a survey carried out in 1998 during which a primary selection of more than 150 vines was made. The Plant Health Division subsequently established an in vase collection representing 20 different cultivars.

Synergene will perform DNA analysis on approximately 100 samples supplied by the Department of Agriculture. This will involve amplification and analysis of 10 microsatellite markers (VVS2, VVS5, VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD27, VVMD28, ssrVrZAG79, ssrVrZAG47, ssrVrZAG62, and ssrVrZAG64). These DNA profiles will allow comparison of the local varieties both amongst themselves and with the profiles from foreign varieties available in various international databases.