Institute for Vine and Wine “Magarach”
Yalta, Ukraine
16 - 18 September 2004

Background

The overall goal of the project is to strengthen the less endowed national programmes on plant genetic resources in southeastern Europe. The project concerns two specific areas, namely grapevine genetic resources and broadleaved forest genetic resources. National programmes comprise activities ideally undertaken by all relevant stakeholders, which ensure the conditions for a sustainable conservation and use of genetic resources. In addition, the project contributes to facilitating international collaboration between national programmes and their integration within the broader context of collaborative activities in Europe. The beneficiary countries involved are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine (referred to as countries of the Caucasus and the northern Black Sea region).

Progress made in both project areas during the first year was reviewed during the project meeting held on 16-18 September 2004, in Yalta, Ukraine. In addition, the meeting aimed specifically at developing the workplan for the next project year (October 2004 – September 2005).

Opening of the meeting

Prof. A.M. Avidzba, Director of the “Magarach” Institute for Vine and Wine, opened the meeting and welcomed project partners from the countries of the region and from the collaborating Institutions in European countries (see List of participants). Dr. Avidzba highlighted the history and importance of grapevine and its genetic resources conservation in Ukraine.

Dr. V. Ryabchoun, Director of the Yuryev Institute of Plant Production and head of the Ukraine’s National Programme on Plant Genetic Resources, also welcomed the participants and wished them a productive meeting.

Dr J. Turok welcomed the participants on behalf of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). He thanked the local organizers for the meeting arrangements and partner Institutions for their participation in the project. After summarizing the current activities, he underlined the importance of this meeting for the future of the project. He also introduced the meeting agenda, which was adopted.

D. Maghradze, S. Gorislavets, O. Failla, J. Turok, M. Bozzano and R. Volosyanchuk agreed to be the rapporteurs of the meeting.

Country updates and scientific presentations

Grapevine genetic resources (Chair: Dr. D. Maghradze)

Project partners from the six countries (S. Gasparyan, G. Melyan (Armenia), V. Gotsiridze, K. Gogishvili (Georgia), M. V. Amanov (Azerbaijan) Gh. Savin (Moldova), L. Troshin (Russian Federation) and V. Volynkin, V. Risovanaya (Ukraine)) presented the progress made in grapevine conservation in their countries since the last meeting.

Broadleaved forest genetic resources (Chair: Dr. M.V. Amanov)

Representatives of the two partner institutions participating in the project (I. Tvauri (Georgia) and R. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine)) presented the progress made in the past year.

Research fellowships

Svetlana Gorislavets and David Maghradze, who were awarded with the fellowships during the first year of the project, made presentations on the achievements of their programmes.

Technical and scientific presentations (Chairs: Dr. S. Gasparyan and Dr. L. Troshin)

During the second day of the meeting, the representatives of collaborating Institutions shared recent relevant activities and achievements, and expressed their suggestions for discussion.

All contributions presented during the meeting will be collected by the Institute for Vine and Wine “Magarach” (see below), and published in the Proceedings of the meetings in both English and Russian. “Magarach” and IPGRI will jointly publish the proceedings. The final text of the proceedings will be available in electronic format from IPGRI website.

Workplan for second project year (October 2004 – September 2005) (Chairs: Dr V. Volynkin and Dr J. Turok)

1. Research fellowships

1.1 Fellowships at the Centre de Recherche Public Gabriel Lippmann (CRPGL), Luxembourg

Dr J.-F. Hausman confirmed the willingness and availability of CRPGL to host three research fellowships also during the next year of the project. Each fellowship at CRPGL will be of three months duration, and can be extended to the same person by additional three months. Young scientists from the region working on grapevine genetic resources as well as on broadleaved forest genetic resources are invited to apply (see below).

Recognizing the work developed by Svetlana Gorislavets during her first three-month fellowship at CRPGL in the first year, she was invited to continue work for additional three months with focus on molecular marker applications in grapevine next year. The application of Yevhen Hubin (Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration) for a three-month fellowship on in vitro propagation of rare broadleaved species was also endorsed by J.-F. Hausman; the period for this fellowship was agreed to be November 2004 - January 2005. The expressions of interest from Armenia and Russian Federation to apply for research fellowships in the next project year were acknowledged.

1.2 Grapevine Fellowship at the University of Milan, Italy

Prof. O. Failla referred to the work developed by D. Maghradze during his ten-month fellowship at the University of Milan. He acknowledged the important results obtained and their implementation by the fellow after returning back to his home country.

He also stressed the importance of standardized training on management of grapevine genetic resources for scientists in the region. He offered a new ten-month fellowship at the University of Milan during the second project year, and encouraged applications. All new applications (curriculum vitae and a brief, two-page description of the applicant’s current work and future plans) for the next project year will be sent to IPGRI (E-mail: ipgri-europe@cgiar.org) before 31 October 2004. Selected fellows will be invited to develop a research plan and describe its relevance for their home institution/ country. The fellows will be selected on the basis of following requirements:

• technical background and experience in the relevant area (grapevine conservation or forest genetic resources);

• documented, increasing responsibility in the relevant area, research or management in the country concerned;

• good knowledge of English;

• maximum age 40 years.

2. Conservation of broadleaved forest genetic resources

Responsible: Laboratory of Forest Tree Breeding, Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration, Kharkiv, Ukraine, and V. Gulisashvili Institute of Mountain Forestry, Tbilisi, Georgia

During the discussion of the forest genetic resources sub-group, it was decided that eco-geographic inventory of existing gene conservation units will be continued in 2005. It was also pointed out that international collaboration in genetic research using molecular markers would be very useful.

The following workplan was developed and presented:

2.1 Coordination/training meeting:

A coordination/training meeting of Georgian and Ukrainian specialists will be held in Tbilisi in April-May 2005. It will aim at evaluating the 2004 field season results and analyzing the progress achieved. An advanced training for Georgia’s team may take place during the meeting if needed. Participation of additional partners from the region was encouraged and opportunities will be evaluated. Additional partners from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Russia may be invited to attend the coordination/training meeting next year.

2.2 Inventory in Georgia

• Review of passport data for the stands to be inventoried in 2005 field season

• Preparation of background documents for fieldwork

• Field inventory with agreed priorities

• Calculations, data processing and reporting

• Subscriptions to scientific journals

• Public awareness initiatives

2.3 Inventory and conservation work in Ukraine

2.3.1 Eco-geographic inventory:

• Preparation of background documents for fieldwork (Jan.- May 2005)

• Field inventory with agreed priorities (June-Sept. 2005)

2.3.2 Ex situ conservation

• Microclonal propagation of rare genotypes of Quercus spp., Populus spp., Sorbus spp., Prunus spp.

• Development and testing of methods for field clonal banks (archives) inventory

2.3.3 Information management:

• Database development (field inventory data)

• Natural distribution maps

• Subscriptions to scientific journals

• Development of public awareness material and initiatives

3. Grapevine conservation

3.1 Coordination

David Maghradze was invited by IPGRI to act as the project facilitator during the second year of the project. His main responsibilities will be to ensure timely and adequate follow up to the collaborative activities agreed by project partners; to collect, analyze and disseminate relevant technical information; to liaise with project partners on technical matters; to support development of joint technical publications; to provide technical support to the organization of the next annual project meeting; and to contribute to raising public awareness He expressed his wish to collaborate with all partners for the better conservation of grapevine in the region. D. Maghradze will start his assignment in October 2004.

3.2 Inventories of existing varieties

Based on the discussion during the meeting, it was agreed that each country will complete the list of autochthonous varieties with a short description of their effective status in the collections, according to a common format. IPGRI will send an improved format (Microsoft Excel table) to all project participants by 15 October 2004. Each country will compile two tables: one for the autochthonous varieties and one for the varieties with origin from the other five countries of the project. The completed tables will be sent to D. Maghradze before 15 November 2004. The compilation of an accurate list of varieties was considered to be essential for implementing the conservation projects in each country. Priority is given to the autochthonous varieties, and therefore, it was suggested that the countries with a very large number of varieties in their collections (i.e. Ukraine), will first finalize the table of autochthonous varieties.

3.3 Project proposals

Project partners in each country will ensure proper maintenance and restoration of the genetic material listed in the inventory. This will include the following actions:

• According to the inventory data and other specific considerations, plans for replanting a new collection will be defined. Each country’s plan should describe the status and perspectives of the present collection; as well as needs, priorities and costs of establishing a new collection.

• Adequate management of the collections, including pruning, fertilization and spray treatments must be implemented.

• Documentation of the collections: during the year, a very good documentation of each accession will need to be produced. Digital photos of whole plot, single vines, typical leaf and grape cluster will be taken and maintained.

• Characterization: a number of tentative ampelographic descriptions of the local genetic materials must be produced.

• Exploration of wild grapevine resources: contacts with the National Forest Service will be established in each country, in order to produce a list of putative populations of wild grapevine.

• Exploration of cultivated resources: contacts with wineries and viticulturists will also be established. A list of sites to be surveyed will be produced.

• Collection and delivery of propagation material (repatriation) will be planned in agreement with colleagues in the other project countries. Reciprocal visits to organize the mobilization of genetic material will be planned. Any transfer of material undertaken within the framework of this project will be made in accordance with the standard Material Transfer Agreement, developed and endorsed under the auspices of the European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks (ref. Report of the ECP/GR Steering Committee meeting, October 2001, available from IPGRI).

These actions will be financially supported from the project budget. O. Failla and D. Maghradze will circulate more detailed information about the conservation activities in October 2004. All project partners will develop and submit one proposal per country before 30 November 2004. These proposals will take into consideration, in particular, pest management, costs for establishment of new collections (if needed), and documentation of the collections.

4. Genetic identification of grapevine varieties – characterization of genotypes using molecular markers
Responsible: Institute for Vine and Wine “Magarach”

During the first year of the project, it was agreed that capacity for characterization of grapevine genotypes at molecular markers will be built at the Institute for Vine and Wine “Magarach”. An automatic sequencing machine ABI 373 was transferred to the Institute as a contribution in-kind from the Department of Biotechnology, Austrian Research Center Seibersdorf, Austria. Specialized training for staff was started in the framework of research fellowships at the CRPGL in Luxembourg (see above). In cooperation with the specialists from the mentioned institutions and with technical assistance provided by the ABI Services in Kiev, the sequencer will be installed and methodology of using this type of sequencer established. First analyses aiming at genetic characterization of grapevine varieties are likely to start in June 2005. It was also agreed that a replication of the first extraction of DNA will be sent to other laboratories in project partner institutions, in order to be able to compare first results and to standardize methodology..

5. Archaeobotany of grapevine
Responsible: Bioarchaeological Research Centre, Italian Institute for Africa and Orient (IsIAO), Rome, Italy

The archaeobotany of grapevine in Ukraine and the research into grapevine diversity of the past were considered as important and innovative research components of the project. It was agreed that particular attention should be given to the collaboration with the colleagues working in this area in Ukraine, in particular Dr G. Pashkevich. Priority will be given to preparing the database of archaeobotanical records of grapevine for Ukraine and Moldova. The Bioarchaeological Research Centre will provide a proposal for descriptors of the grapevine seeds. The report on the activity carried out with the Georgian colleagues will be published in the bulletin of the Research Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and Winemaking, Tbilisi.

6. Information, documentation and publications

6.1 Transliteration: Standardized guidelines for transliteration from Cyrillic into Latin fonts will be distributed to all project partners by IPGRI.

6.2 Descriptors: It was agreed that the IPGRI Descriptors for Vitis should be used wherever appropriate. A copy of the Descriptors can be downloaded from IPGRI’s website or can be sent upon request. The project participants felt that support should be offered for the development and production of the revised version of the Descriptors.

6.3 Inputs to the European Vitis Database: It was agreed that first inputs from the countries of the region to the European Vitis database will be provided by 31 December 2004. Dr E. Maul and D. Maghradze will circulate more detailed information and request input according to a standard format.

6.4 Institute codes: All Collection Holders were encouraged to send an e-mail to Stefano Diulgheroff at FAO (E-mail: Stefano.Diulgheroff @ fao.org) asking for the Institute code of each institute holding grapevine collection in their country. The full address of each Institute should be provided.

6.5 E-mail communication will be used among all the partners. In the case of problems with receiving large attachments, partners are kindly invited to indicate communication alternatives (i.e. CD-Rom, websites etc.). In case of problems with e-mail communication, it is very important to let the coordination (especially D. Maghradze) know.

6.6 CD-Rom of the presentations: It was agreed that a CD-Rom containing all the presentations given during the meeting will be made available upon request by IPGRI. It was underlined that a clear acknowledgement of the author and of the meeting should be done in case that the material will be used for reference. The presentations are to be considered as unpublished material of the project participants.

6.7 Proceedings: It was decided to publish the proceedings of the meeting, including several papers that resulted from the first project meeting, held in Tbilisi, in October 2003. The Institute for Vine and Wine “Magarach” offered to collect all the contributions, ensuring their translation from and into Russian. Instructions for authors will be provided. The final document will be sent to IPGRI for final English editing. Printing arrangements will be decided and made jointly by IPGRI and Institute for Vine and Wine “Magarach”. All participants will send their contributions by 30 November 2004. The proceedings will be published before the next meeting.

6.8 Next meeting
Responsible: IPGRI

The next, third project meeting will be held in September 2005. Russian Federation and Moldova offered to host the meeting. Both offers were gratefully acknowledged. The venue of the meeting will be announced by IPGRI in due time.

List of Participants

Samvel Gasparyan
Pushkin st. 33/10
375002 Yerevan
Armenia
Tel: (374-1) 530475 / 233279
Fax: (374-1) 233279
Email: S-Gasparyan@yandex.ru

Gagik Melyan
Isakov st. 44/36
375114 Yerevan
Armenia
Tel: (374-1) 727460
Fax: (374-1) 232441
Email: gmggmg65@mail.ru

Josef Schmidt
Department of Biotechnology
Austrian Research Centers
Environment and Life Sciences ARC Seibersdorf research GmbH
2444 Seibersdorf
Austria
Tel.: (43) 50550-3519
Fax: (43) 50550-3666
Email: josef.schmidt@arcs.ac.at

Mail Veli Amanov
Mekhtiabad vil.
Absheron distr.
0100 Baku
Azerbaijan
Tel: (994-12) 435331
Email: uzum@azeronline.com
Vaja Gotsiridze
Georgian Research Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and Wine Making
6 Marshal Gelovani ave
0115 Tbilisi
Georgia
Tel: (995-32) 524611
Email: dmagradze@hotmail.com

Gogishvili Kakha
Georgian Research Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and Wine Making
6 Marshal Gelovani ave
0115 Tbilisi
Georgia
Tel: (995-32) 524611
Email: dmagradze@hotmail.com

David Maghradze
Georgian Research Institute of Horticulture, Viticulture and Wine Making
6 Marshal Gelovani Ave.
0159 Tbilisi
Georgia
Tel: (995-32) 516908
Email: dmagradze@hotmail.com

Irina Tvauri
Institute of Mountain Forestry of V. Gulisashvili
0186 9 Mindel
Tbilisi
Georgia
Tel: (995-32) 537236 / 537238
Fax: (995-32) 537237
Email: itvauri@yahoo.com

Erika Maul
Federal Centre on Crop Breeding Research, BAZ - Institute for Grapevine Breeding
76833 Siebeldingen
Germany
Tel: (49-6345) 41122
Fax: (49-6345) 919050
Email: e.maul@bafz.de

Lorenzo Costantini
Bioarchaeological Reasearch Centre
Italian Institute for Africa and Orient (IsIAO) and
National Museum of Oriental Art
Via Merulana 248
00185 Rome
Italy
Tel (39) 064874218
Fax (39) 064870624
Email: l.costantini@mclink.it

Osvaldo Failla
Deptartment of Crop Science University of Milan
Via Celoria 2
20133 Milano
Italy
Tel: (39-02) 50316565
Fax: (39-02) 50316553
Email: osvaldo.failla@unimi.it

Mara Rossoni
Deptartment of Crop Science University of Milan
Via Celoria 2
20133 Milano
Italy
Tel: (39-02) 50316565
Fax: (39-02) 50316553
Email: mara.rossoni@unimi.it

Sirio Strika
Bioarchaeological Reasearch Centre
Italian Institute for Africa and Orient (IsIAO) and
National Museum of Oriental Art
Via Merulana 248
00185 Rome
Italy
Tel (39) 064874218
Fax (39) 064870624


Vladimir Cornea
National Institute for Grape and Wine
128 Grenoble str.
2019 Chisinau
Moldova
Tel. (373-022) 285003
Fax.: (373-022) 563267
Email: v_cornea@yahoo.com

Gheorghe Savin
National Institute for Grape and Wine
Grenoble str. 128
2019 Chisinau
Moldova
Tel: (373-022) 285003
Fax: (373-022) 563267
Email: gsavin@mail.md

Alexander Smurygin
KOSS-VIRa
Krasnodarskii krai
Krymsk-4
Russian Federation
Tel/Fax: (7-86131) 51588


Leonid Troshin
Kalinina 13
KGAU
350044 Krasnodar
Russian Federation
Tel: (7-8612) 269629
Fax: (7-8612) 202935
Email: lptroshin@mail.ru

Jean-François Hausman
CRP Gabriel Lippmann
162 av. De la Faiencerie
1511 Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Tel: (352-47) 0261437
Fax: (352-47) 0261389
Email: hausman@crpgl.lu

Svetlana Gorislavets
Institute of Vine and Wine Magarach
31 Kirov Street
98600 Yalta, Crimea
Ukraine
Tel: (380-654) 325813
Fax: (380-654) 230608
Email: goricvet_2@rambler.ru

Svitlana Los
Lab. of Forest Tree Breeding Ukrainian Research Inst. of Forestry and Forest Melioration
Pushkinska, 86
61024 Kharkiv
Ukraine
Tel./Fax: (380-312) 619950
Email: selint@uriffm.org.ua

Galina Pashkevich
Institute archaeology of Ukraine ul.Geroev Stalingrada, 12
04210 Kiev
Ukraine
Tel.: (380-44) 4182775
Fax: (380-44) 4183306
Email: pashkevich11@yandex.ru

Valentina Risovanaya
Institute of Vine and Wine Magarach
31 Kirov Street
98600 Yalta, Crimea
Ukraine
Tel: (380-654) 325813
Fax: (380-654) 230608
Email: vrisovan@rambler.ru

Roman Volosyanchuk
Lab. of Forest Tree Breeding Ukrainian Research Inst. of Forestry and Forest Melioration
Pushkinska, 86
61024 Kharkiv
Ukraine
Tel: (380-312) 619950
Fax: (380-312) 619950
Email: rvolosyanchuk@forza-ic.com.ua

Vladimir Volynkin
Institute of Vine and Wine Magarach
31 Kirov Street
98600 Yalta, Crimea
Ukraine
Tel: (38-654) 325941
Fax: (38-654) 230608
Email: magaracht@rambler.ru

Jozef Turok
Regional Office for Europe
International Plant Genetic Resources (IPGRI)
Via dei Tre Denari 472/a
00057 Maccarese
Italy
Tel: (39-06) 6118250
Fax: (39-06) 61979661
Email: j.turok@cgiar.org


Michele Bozzano
Regional Office for Europe
International Plant Genetic Resources (IPGRI)
Via dei Tre Denari 472/a
00057 Maccarese
Italy
Tel: (39) 06 6118221
Fax: (39) 06 61979661
Email: m.bozzano@cgiar.org


Unable to attend

Joseph Coleman Carter
Institute of Classical Achaeology
3925 W. Braker Lane
Austin, Texas 78759
USA
Tel: (1-512) 2329321
Fax: (1-512) 2329324
Email: j.carter@mail.utexas.edu