conference schedule and program with abstracts - Horticulture ...

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Brazilian Grape Breeding Program
U.A. Camargo, J.D.G. Maia, V.M. Quecini, P.S. Ritschel*
Embrapa Grape and Wine, CP 130, Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
*Corresponding author: patricia@cnpuv.embrapa.br
In Brazil, the first records of genetic grape breeding are dated from XIX century, but only after
1940 the developmentof grape breeding programs started at public institutions. Since 1977,
Embrapa Grape and Wine has been leading a breeding program, aiming to get grape cultivars for
different purposes as table grapes, grapes to make wine and juice and also the developing of
rootstocks. The objectives of this program evolved together with Brazilian viticulture and can be
resumed as the developing of grape cultivars adapted to different production regions, including
tropical ones, presenting tolerance to the main Brazilian grape diseases and plagues and quality
to different purposes. About 3000 hybrids from crossings between several Vitis species,
including wild tropical ones, are evaluated each year. Selected individuals are multiplied and
evaluated for 3-4 years. Then, promising materials are propagated and evaluated in greater plots
for more 3-4 years. This step can include sensory analysis of table grapes, juice or
microvinifications, depending on the grape selection purpose. Advanced selections are then
tested on commercial fields, for about 2 years. New cultivars are released only when this
decision is also supported by growers. As results, 14 new Brazilian grape cultivars were released
in recentyears, contributing to the several segments of grape productive chain. ‘D. Zilá’ and
‘Tardia de Caxias’ are table grapes of ‘labrusca’ type, while ‘BRS Morena’; ‘BRS Clara’ and
‘BRS Linda’ are seedless table grapes of ‘vinifera’ type adapted to tropical climates. ‘Moscato
Embrapa’ and ‘BRS Lorena’ are wine grapes with muscat flavor which can be recommended to
tropical areas. ‘BRS Margot’ is a hybrid producing a ‘vinifera’ type wine. ‘BRS Rúbea’, ‘BRS
Cora’, ‘BRS Violeta’ and ‘BRS Carmem’ are juice grapes with very strong color and high sugar
content. ‘Concord Clone 30’ and ‘Isabel Precoce’ are early variants of traditional grape cultivars
of ‘labrusca’ type, Concord and Isabel respectively. Currently, about 300 table and processing
grape selections are under evaluation and five new advanced selections are under validation.
These point toward the perspective of development and release of new Brazilian grapes in the
next years.
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