Invetory and characterization of Vitis vinifera L. ssp. silvestris in France

In 2000 and 2001, we prospected several regions in France in order to identify wild grapevine. One hundred and thirty five sites were found, and 517 individuals have been recorded, among which 330 were believed to be native wild grapevines based on morphological characteristics. Out of these, 154 individuals have been further analyzed. They originate from 4 regions: Aquitaine, Corse, Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées. Based on morphological data, 123 of these were considered as wild grapevine. Analysis of morphological data did not revealed clear geographical differentiation of the wild individuals. On the contrary, analysis of molecular data revealed a clear differentiation between wild grapes from Corsica and from continental France, as well as a differentiation between cultivated and wild compartments. French wild genotypes are more closely related to French cultivars than to cultivars from other parts of Europe.