Multivariate statistical analysis of two-dimensional NMR data to differentiate grapevine cultivars and clones

Multivariate statistical methods were applied on two-dimensional NMR data (1H-13C) of polyphenol extracts from grapevine clones harvested in the Bordeaux region. An analysis of variance detected the most discriminating NMR spectral correlation volumes which were then used to perform principal component, hierarchical clustering and discriminant analyses. The results showed that clones are divided into three groups according to the cultivar and they can be differentiated inside each cultivar. This method was applied to polyphenol extracts from grape seeds and leaves. Nowadays, two-dimensional NMR is the only analytical tool which can differentiate grapevine clones. It could thus be used to check the identity of grapevine species, cultivars or clones as well as any other plants which produce polyphenols.