ISHS Acta Horticulturae 388: International Symposium on Viticulture and Enology
BREEDING GRAPES FOR WARM CLIMATES--THE AUSTRALIAN EXPERIENCE |
| Author: | J.V. POSSINGHAM |
| Abstract:
Many of the grape-growing areas of Australia are located in regions that have relatively hot, dry summers. These areas are favoured for raisin, wine and table grape production as in most seasons they have a low incidence of damaging fungal diseases. However for grapevines to both survive and to make satisfactory growth over the hot summer months it is essential to provide supplementary water by irrigation. These growing condition are significantly different from those in much of Europe which has been the source of most of the grapevine cultivars grown in Australia. This paper describes the objectives of, and results obtained from a grapevine breeding program which aimed to produce varieties adapted to growing in warm irrigated vineyards in Australia. Two raisin varieties, Carina a rain damage resistant replacement for the Zante Currant and Merbein Seedless a high yielding alternative to the Sultana were bred. The Carina is now grown extensively in Australia and there is growing interest in Merbein Seedless. Two wine grapes, Tarrango which gives a light style early maturing red wine, and Taminga a heavy yielding muscat flavoured white grape are currently being taken up by industry. Both varieties have distinctive flavour, are late ripening and retain good levels of acidity at maturity when grown in warm areas. A black, seedless, table grape, Marroo Seedless with large berries weighing 3–5 g. was been bred and released. This variety has considerable resistance to downy mildew and grows well in the tropics. It is currently be being grown in the U.S.A., Chile and Spain where it has been protected | |
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