Molecular Characterization and Ex Situ Conservation of Wild Grapevines Grown in the Area Around the Neolithic Settlement of Dikili Tash, Greece

Dikili Tash is a Neolithic settlement that lies next to the ruins of the ancient city of Philippi on the north-eastern part of Greece. A recent archaeological excavation has unearthed charred grapevine pips and pressings together with two-handed clay cups, jugs, and jars that date to 4300 BC. The ma...

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Main Authors: Georgios Merkouropoulos, Ioannis Ganopoulos, Georgios Doupis, Erika Maul, Franco Röckel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Agriculture
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/12/1301
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author Georgios Merkouropoulos
Ioannis Ganopoulos
Georgios Doupis
Erika Maul
Franco Röckel
author_facet Georgios Merkouropoulos
Ioannis Ganopoulos
Georgios Doupis
Erika Maul
Franco Röckel
author_sort Georgios Merkouropoulos
collection DOAJ
description Dikili Tash is a Neolithic settlement that lies next to the ruins of the ancient city of Philippi on the north-eastern part of Greece. A recent archaeological excavation has unearthed charred grapevine pips and pressings together with two-handed clay cups, jugs, and jars that date to 4300 BC. The majority of the pips were found to be <i>Vitis vinifera</i> ssp. <i>sylvestris</i>. Natural populations of this species have been localized in the valley surrounding Dikili Tash and also on Mt Pangaion and Mt Lekani, which flank the valley. Fifty-one samples from these modern populations have been analyzed using microsatellites on twenty microsatellite loci, and a dendrogram has been constructed showing the genetic closeness of the samples analyzed. Cuttings from all the vines analyzed are currently rooted and grown in the Hellenic Agricultural Organization—DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA) greenhouse facilities in Lykovryssi (Athens) with the aim to, eventually, be transplanted in the grapevine, thus establishing the first <i>V. sylvestris</i> ex situ conservation site in Greece.
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spelling doaj-art-3e8077d5038b4a799dcd61b2190fb3aa2025-08-20T03:30:28ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-06-011512130110.3390/agriculture15121301Molecular Characterization and Ex Situ Conservation of Wild Grapevines Grown in the Area Around the Neolithic Settlement of Dikili Tash, GreeceGeorgios Merkouropoulos0Ioannis Ganopoulos1Georgios Doupis2Erika Maul3Franco Röckel4Department of Vitis, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), 14123 Lykovryssi, GreeceInstitute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Viticulture, Floriculture & Plant Protection, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organization DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), 71307 Heraklion, GreeceInstitute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), 76833 Siebeldingen, GermanyInstitute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof, Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), 76833 Siebeldingen, GermanyDikili Tash is a Neolithic settlement that lies next to the ruins of the ancient city of Philippi on the north-eastern part of Greece. A recent archaeological excavation has unearthed charred grapevine pips and pressings together with two-handed clay cups, jugs, and jars that date to 4300 BC. The majority of the pips were found to be <i>Vitis vinifera</i> ssp. <i>sylvestris</i>. Natural populations of this species have been localized in the valley surrounding Dikili Tash and also on Mt Pangaion and Mt Lekani, which flank the valley. Fifty-one samples from these modern populations have been analyzed using microsatellites on twenty microsatellite loci, and a dendrogram has been constructed showing the genetic closeness of the samples analyzed. Cuttings from all the vines analyzed are currently rooted and grown in the Hellenic Agricultural Organization—DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA) greenhouse facilities in Lykovryssi (Athens) with the aim to, eventually, be transplanted in the grapevine, thus establishing the first <i>V. sylvestris</i> ex situ conservation site in Greece.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/12/1301<i>Vitis vinifera</i> ssp. <i>sylvestris</i>microsatelliltesSSRgenotyping
spellingShingle Georgios Merkouropoulos
Ioannis Ganopoulos
Georgios Doupis
Erika Maul
Franco Röckel
Molecular Characterization and Ex Situ Conservation of Wild Grapevines Grown in the Area Around the Neolithic Settlement of Dikili Tash, Greece
Agriculture
<i>Vitis vinifera</i> ssp. <i>sylvestris</i>
microsatelliltes
SSR
genotyping
title Molecular Characterization and Ex Situ Conservation of Wild Grapevines Grown in the Area Around the Neolithic Settlement of Dikili Tash, Greece
title_full Molecular Characterization and Ex Situ Conservation of Wild Grapevines Grown in the Area Around the Neolithic Settlement of Dikili Tash, Greece
title_fullStr Molecular Characterization and Ex Situ Conservation of Wild Grapevines Grown in the Area Around the Neolithic Settlement of Dikili Tash, Greece
title_full_unstemmed Molecular Characterization and Ex Situ Conservation of Wild Grapevines Grown in the Area Around the Neolithic Settlement of Dikili Tash, Greece
title_short Molecular Characterization and Ex Situ Conservation of Wild Grapevines Grown in the Area Around the Neolithic Settlement of Dikili Tash, Greece
title_sort molecular characterization and ex situ conservation of wild grapevines grown in the area around the neolithic settlement of dikili tash greece
topic <i>Vitis vinifera</i> ssp. <i>sylvestris</i>
microsatelliltes
SSR
genotyping
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/12/1301
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