Prokupac – a treasure that should be preserved through clonal selection

The work on the collection of biotypes, ampelographic tests and clonal selection of the autochthonous variety Prokupac was firstly started by the Center for Viticulture and Enology, starting with the work of Dr D. Zirojević in the fifties and sixties of the last century, and later also in other researches. During many years of scientific work and the collection of genetic material from all over Serbia, the Center has identified 5 different genotypes of this variety, which is classified in the Proleas pontica (Convarietas pontica), subconvarietas balcanica.

Considering that Prokupac is a very old variety, it is also understandable that it has a high degree of heterogeneity and different genotypes, so there are several synonyms for this variety (Kameničarka – in the village Kamenica near Niš, Rskavac – in the Župa Vineyard, Niševka and others) . Such diversity and richness give great potential in research and selection of the best potential clones of the Prokupac variety. However, due to urbanization, problems in the wine sector in the previous period and changes in the structure of agricultural crops, numerous old and non-commercial vineyards with this variety have been reduced. Thus, huge genetic potential has been lost, since prior to the shrinkage of such vineyards, no inventory and selection of the best candidates for future clonal selection was performed. On the other hand, clonal selection is a highly demanding form of breeding since it is conditioned by international procedures and protocols, by engaging scientific and professional staff and ampler specialist, ampelometry, terroir, ampelotechnique, virusology, phytoplasmology, etc. Also, for successful clonal selection, large funding is needed for research and field work in the least accessible areas, so the path to obtaining and recognizing clones is very long and unpredictable.

For the purpose of inventorying vineyards and conducting activities of cloning selection of the Prokupac variety, the Center for Viticulture and Oenology started intensive field and other types of research in the area of Župa, Trstenik and Potrkanjsko vineyards. In 2018, the focus of research on the Prokupac variety is within the Župa Vineyard population, with old and heterogeneous material. Such rich genetic material was found in the old vineyards of Župa vineyard, at the farm of the villages of Lukarevina and Latkovac, and on this occasion we would like to thank the producers of grape and wine in whose vineyards these activities are carried out to understand the necessity of preserving genetic resources and cloning selection.

In the field work, the Center, in addition to inventorying the potential of the Župa vineyard and vineyards with a large number of potential pre-bridges, works on individual clonal selection. In these activities, a selection of a small number of the best grapevine plants (elite plants) from the population, with good qualities, is in accordance with the objectives of the selection of the Center and which are free of visible symptoms of the presence of viruses and phytoplasmas. During the work, certain ampelographic research is carried out.

Through clonal selection, the Center for Viticulture and Oenology works to determine the hereditary basis of the selected (elite) plants, that is to determine whether the variability in terms of more fragile clusters, less plant life, earlier maturation, better quality grapes with better aromatic complex and coloration of the grapes / must and others, in fact, the cause of hereditary mutations, not modifications.

Given that there is a problem that virosis and phytoplasmosis affect the occurrence of variability within the varieties, the Center for Wine and Oenology excludes from the research during the activity during clonal selection of the infected plant. In addition, in cooperation with domestic and foreign phytosanitary laboratories, for the first time in our country phytosanitary selection of Prokupca is carried out simultaneously with genetic selection. Since the most important production characteristics of grape varieties are the yield and quality, which include: the content of sugar and acid in a wider range of maturity, the ratio of individual organic acids, and the content of aromatic substances and phenolic compounds, except the Center in this process, certain laboratory analysis of the parameters quality is performed by individual domestic and foreign scientific institutions.

During 2018, the Center for Viticulture and Oenology has selected a number of Prokupac individuals who are potentially healthy and have good production and use value, which will confirm or deny the following laboratory phytosanitary tests and quality parameters tests. In this way we continue with these researches and analyzes, all with the aim to preserve and improve the quality of autochthonous, old and minor varieties, which are unjustly forgotten. In any case, Prokupac is a treasure to be preserved!