ABSTRACT
In order to characterize Iranian grape [Vitis vinifera L.] germplasm, 136 genotypes were collected from five grape growing regions [Azarbaijan, Qazvin, Kordestan, Khorasan and Fars] and genotyped along with 36 European cultivars using 9 sequence tagged microsatellite sites [STMS] markers. The used set of markers could distinguish all 172 genotypes under study. Altogether 84 polymorphic alleles were observed detected all the genotypes, with an average of 9.33 and 5.81 effective alleles per locus. The expected heterozygosity values were higher than those observed for all the loci. This could probably be due to the occurrence of null alleles at these loci. The usefulness of this set of markers for genotype distinction was assessed as probability of identity [PI]. The estimated total PI value over all the geographic regions for this set of markers was estimated to be 5.67 0[-9]. Comparison of samples from different grape growing regions of Iran and Europe based on various parameters using allelic data revealed similar level of genetic variation. Analysis of molecular variance [AMOVA] indicated significant difference between samples, however, no difference was observed between the Iranian and European groups. Genetic differentiation among samples based on Fst in most pairwise comparisons was significant. Cluster analysis based on coancestry coefficient matrix and principal coordinate analysis confirmed the result of AMOVA and Fst analysis