Archaeobotanical-archaeological, cultural and historical data indicate that grapevine domestication can be dated back from 6000 to 7000 years ago and that it took place in the Caucasian and Middle East Regions. However, events leading to the domestication of this crop species are still an open issue. In this paper, 6 chloroplast microsatellites have been used to assess genetic similarities among, and within, domesticated and wild grapevine ac-cessions representative of 7 distinct geographical regions from the Middle-East to Western Europe. Results show that 2 out of the 6 analyzed chloroplast loci are polymorphic within the 193 domesticated individuals and the 387 samples of 69 wild populations. Allele variants of the Cp-SSR loci combine in a total of 6 different haplotypes. The data show that the haplotype distribution is not homogeneous: the 6 haplotypes are present in the domesticated varieties, but only 5 (haplotype VI is absent) are observed in wild populations. The analysis of haplotype distribution allows discussion of the relationships between the two grape subspecies. The contribution of the wild grape germplasm to the domesticated gene pool still growing in different geographical regions can be, in cases, made evident, suggesting that beside domestication, gene introgression has also played a role in shaping the current varietal landscape of the European viticulture.

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<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Aim</strong>: To evaluate the suitability of wild grapevine genotypes to saline conditions by measuring leaf ion content and salt injury symptoms.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods and results</strong>: Vines of nine wild (<em>Vitis vinifera</em> L. ssp. sylvestris) genotypes were planted in pots and after the good establishment, salinity treatments (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl) started. At the end of the experimental period, the K⁺, Na⁺, NO₃^- and Cl^- content of leaves and visible symptoms of salt injury were recorded. Leaf Na⁺ and Cl^- content increased with increasing salinity but levels and accumulation rates were different among genotypes.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion</strong>: Based on Na⁺ and Cl^- content and salt symptoms, genotypes 4 and 7 showed less symptoms than the other genotypes at moderate (50-100 mM) NaCl concentration and none could tolerate high salt (150 mM) concentration.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Significance and impact of the study</strong>: Under saline conditions, ion accumulation in the leaves significantly varied among wild genotypes and some of them could be recommended as saline tolerant genotypes.</p>