GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF GRAPEVINE GERMPLASM (VITIS VINIFERA L.) BY SSR (SIMPLE SEQUENCE REPEATS) IN SANLIURFA PROVINCE, SOUTHEAST TURKEY

In this study, grape cultivars growing in Sanhurfa were analyzed and compared using molecular markers. The analysis was performed with 50 genotypes using 7 microsatellite markers. Total number of alleles per locus ranged from 7 (VrZAG62 and VrZAG79) to 9 (VVS2), with a mean number of 7.9 alleles per locus. The expected and observed heterozygosity were 0. 7509 and 0.6958, respectively. Clustering analysis was conducted using the UPGMA method (Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic means). The analysis of similarity index revealed 6 distinct groups, each of which included several subgroups: Group I included 8, Group II included 4, Group III included 11, Group IV included 9, Group V included 10, and Group VI included 8 subgroups. The two reference genotypes, Cabemet Sauvignon and Merlot, were classified into a separate subgroup within Group V. In conclusion, 17 synonyms and 8 homonyms were identified for the genotypes analyzed in our study.