Multivariate analysis of Vitis subgenus Vitis seed morphology.

We studied 142 grapevine seed samples belonging to 5 Vitis species, 92 cultivars of Vitis vinifera , 12 feral/wild populations and 4 hybrid rootstock cultivars. Eleven different characters from the seed and one allometric index have been used. Seeds show a wide range of variation in body dimensions, and in other parameters. Two largely differentiated clusters were obtained. Coincidences with previous seed classifications are discussed. Wild extra-European species have smaller seeds. The index breadth/length (STUMMER’s index) doesn’t allow to separate wild grapevines and cultivars. It defines, however, the “wild syndrome” values above 0.8 corresponding to wild extra-European Vitis species, occasionally used as rootstocks. Ferals/wild individuals tend to display smaller berries and plumper pips than their cultivated relatives therefore “looking wild”. The multivariate analysis place together ferals/wild and related cultivars in their respective clusters and does not discriminate a cluster of wild European grapevine.