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conference schedule and program with abstracts - Horticulture ...

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O-55<br />

Characteristics of promising muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.): Selections from<br />

the University of Georgia (U.S.A) breeding <strong>program</strong><br />

Patrick Conner*<br />

<strong>Horticulture</strong> Department, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, University of Georgia, Tifton,<br />

Georgia, USA<br />

Corresponding author: pconner@uga.edu<br />

Muscadine grapes have been cultivated commercially in the southeastern United States since the<br />

middle of the 18th century for both fresh consumption <strong>and</strong> wine <strong>and</strong> juice production. The<br />

University of Georgia operates the oldest <strong>and</strong> largest breeding <strong>program</strong> dedicated to the<br />

improvement of the muscadine grape. Current goals of the breeding <strong>program</strong> include the<br />

development of new cultivars which combine large berry size <strong>with</strong> perfect flowers, earlier <strong>and</strong><br />

later maturing cultivars, berries <strong>with</strong> dry stem scars <strong>and</strong> edible skins, <strong>and</strong> increased cold<br />

hardiness. Details of eight new selections in comparison to st<strong>and</strong>ard cultivars are given in this<br />

paper. Five selections are targeted towards conventional fresh market production, two for organic<br />

production, <strong>and</strong> one for home garden <strong>and</strong> pick-your-own production. Three of the most<br />

promising selections; Ga. 1-1-48 (‘Fry’ × ‘Tara’), Ga. 5-1-38 (‘Supreme’ × ‘Tara’) <strong>and</strong> Ga. 5-1-<br />

45 (‘Supreme’ × ‘Tara’), are on track to be released as cultivars in the next three years. These<br />

three selections are suitable for commercial production because they have self-fertile flowers,<br />

large berry size, <strong>and</strong> a high percentage of dry stem scars.<br />

76


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