Viticulture Biodiversity in Van Province

Abstract

Viticulture preserved its significance from the past to the present that have been ruled in all civilization the region of Van. The presence of carbonized grape seeds in the remains of the Early Iron Age tombs and cities gives information about the history of grape cultivation in Van and its vicinities. However, many of the local varieties described by the elderly are now unfortunately not seen in large areas. Some of the genotypes are no longer encountered, while many genotypes are observed in a few vineyards with a few vines. The grape genetic resources except Erciş variety in the region are threatened with extinction. In spite of many ecological factors that restrict crop production in the region, vineyard has existed for thousands of years and urgent precautions have to be taken to protect this genetic heritage bearing grape landraces close to standard genotypes. The region has been investigated by many researchers for many years and the determined local varieties have been investigated in detail in terms of morphological and pomological characteristics, chemical contents and nutrients and defined in terms of molecular or ampelographic aspects in different studies. With this review, it is aimed to recover the knowledge of these genotypes in a single study in using scientific studies made up to this day in the region. So that it is aimed to lead the steps to be taken in the establishment of a gene pool composed of these local varieties which are under the risk of extinction is increasing day by day. The study also includes information on local adaptations of some standard grape cultivars that have been planted in previous years.