Besides its high quality wine, cv. Plavac mali is also famous as a possible synonym for cv. Zinfandel, widely grown in California, and cv. Primitivo, grown in Southern Italy. The supposition that Plavac mali is actually native to Croatia (Dalmatia region) and was introduced to Italy and named as Primitivo, and also introduced to California where it is named as Zinfandel, has been scientifically examined. Based on a comparison of climate requirements for growth and development for each of the above mentioned cultivars, we judged that Plavac mali cannot be of the same genotype as cv. Primitivo or Zinfandel. DNA marker analysis (microsatellites) has proven that Zinfandel and Primitivo share the same genotype, i.e., they are genetically synonyms, but cv. Plavac mali is a distinct variety. However, the degree of genetic similarity among the DNA markers suggests that Plavac mali and Zinfandel/Primitivo probably are related as parent and progeny.

Vitis vinifera L.; Plavac mali; Primitivo; Zinfandel; microsatellites (SSR)

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia