Agronomic and Genetic Characterization of Table Grape Cultivars in Azerbaijan: Implications for Domestication-Related Yield Traits

Abstract

In the Caucasus, considered a primary center of vine domestication, Azerbaijan stands out for its strong tradition of table grape production. Despite its richness, the Azerbaijani grapevine germplasm remains poorly characterized and scarcely represented in the international scientific literature, making this study one of the few peer-reviewed works devoted to it. Domestication and varietal selection have always been driven primarily by crop productivity. In this study, 25 table grape cultivars grown in Azerbaijan (10 of which were local varieties, while the remaining 15 were introduced varieties) were observed for 3 consecutive years. Phenotypic (ampelographic and agronomic) and genetic (microsatellite) data were collected. The ampelographic descriptions of all the observed cultivars have been produced and made available. Genetic analyses indicate the presence of multiple genetic backgrounds within the Azerbaijani germplasm, consistent with the role of the Caucasus region in grapevine domestication and diversification. Agronomic evaluations show that local cultivars are generally less productive (approx. −31%). Of particular interest is the introduced cultivar ‘Taifi Rozovyi’, which produces grapes that are about twice as large as the average for other genotypes, enabling an extremely high yield.