Grapevine microsatellite repeats: Isolation, characterisation and use for genotyping of grape germplasm from Southern Italy

New microsatellite repeat markers from Vitis vinifera L. are described. Of the designed primer pairs, 7 were able to amplify homologous loci in 5 genetically diverse Vitis genotypes. The 7 markers developed in this study and 6 additional ones were used to fingerprint grapevine germplasm from southern Italy. Microsatellite analysis allowed almost all the analysed genotypes to be differentiated and uncovered two mislabeled cultivars (Castiglione and Marsigliana nera). No clonal differences were detected. Genetic relationships between the Italian cultivars were also investigated and a considerable degree of similarity was found.