Tentative Application of an Electronic Nose to the Study of the Parentage of Romanian Grape Varieties Sarba and Alb Aromat

Four grapevine varieties cultivated in Romania, two known from ancient times (Tamâioasa româneasca and Italian Riesling) and the other two derived by cross-breeding or free-pollination from these (Sarba and Alb Aromat, respectively) were cultivated in the same conditions and vinified by using the same technology, so that the assessment of their volatile profile with an electronic nose would reflect only their differences and similarities. Sarba variety was obtained in 1972 in Odobesti region and is supposedly genetically related to Italian Riesling and a muscat-type grape. Although the research information is scarce and some popular sources cite as ancestors either the Italian Riesling or the Tamâioasa, while some other mention both, the Vitis International Variety Catalogue (http://www.vivc.de/) mentions as pedigree ancestors confirmed by markers the Italian Riesling and Muscat of Hambourg. As for the Alb Aromat variety it was obtained at the Pietroasa Research station by self-pollination of Tamâioasa and officially registered in 1999. It may also have in its pedigree the grape Maria Pirovano, as mentioned in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue. Both these new varieties are semi-aromatic, with a muscat-based aroma profile derived from the parent aromatic variety. The resulted wines were analyzed with a double column gas-chromatograph functioning as an electronic nose, providing fingerprints of the volatile substances profile for each sample. The statistical analysis of the volatile profiles confirmed that Sarba is likely to have a parent-offspring relationship with both Italian Riesling and Tamâioasa (or other muscat-type grape), while the Alb Aromat has a closer profile only to Tamâioasa. More detailed studies are needed to confirm the exact parentage of these two grape varieties, as well as the applicability of the electronic nose as a fast and economic, but at the same time adequate instrument, for assessing parentage relationships among grape varieties.