Anthocyanin composition of several wild grape accessions.

This study investigated the anthocyanin composition of 21 mostly Spanish wild grapevine accessions preserved at El Encin Germoplasm Bank and selected in consideration of observed ampelographic differences and molecular characterization. Sampling was carried out in 2006, 2007, and 2008. After extraction from grape skins, total anthocyanins was determined by spectrophotometry and the anthocyanin fingerprint of grapes, based on 15 anthocyanin variables, was determined by HPLC. Total anthocyanin concentration was similar to that found in winegrape cultivars. The accessions studied showed considerable variability in their anthocyanin fingerprints and it was possible to distinguish several groups, similar to previous reports on the anthocyanin fingerprint of winegrapes. The anthocyanin composition of wild grapevine accessions was similar to that of cultivated grapes. Nevertheless, the presence of wild accessions with anthocyanin fingerprints uncommon or nonexistent in Spanish cultivated varieties suggests that the genetic variability related to anthocyanins in Spanish wild grapevine populations may be higher than that of cultivated varieties commonly considered of Spanish origin.