СОРТ ВИНОГРАДА REGAL SEEDLESS В УСЛОВИЯХ НИЖНЕГО ПРИДОНЬЯ

Abstract

Nowadays, table grape consumers prefer seedless grape varieties, so the market promotion of seedless varieties continues at a rapid pace. Responding to consumer preferences, the breeders have developed numerous various-flavour seedless varieties with large berries and bunches. The study purpose is to assess the prospects of cultivation and use in breeding of a new seedless Regal Seedless grape variety bred in South Africa. By origin, this is an intraspecific hybrid of the species V. vinifera L., with an early middle ripening period. The author carried out the variety study to assess agrobiological, economically valuable traits and properties and compiled a short ampelographic description. The study was carried out in 2017–2019 at the experimental vineyard of Ya.I. Potapenko All-Russian Research Institute for Viticulture and Winemaking – Branch of Federal Rostov Agricultural Research Center. The study focuses on non-irrigated covered and grafted vineyards, the Kober 5BB rootstock, the planting pattern of 3 × 1.5 m, and a fan-shaping thankless bush. As to a set of positive parameters (yield, high vendebility, natural seedlessness without the use of gibberellin, large size characteristics, and good taste), the Regal Seedless variety is of certain interest for industrial viticulture, and this variety can also be recommended for use in further breeding as a source of seedless and large berries. According to preliminary studies, the ripened berries of this variety should not be kept long on the bush to prevent peel browning and deterioration in vendebility. The variety is recommended as a highly commercial table grape without the PPP use, but it is not suitable for the production of raisins due to insufficient sugar accumulation. It is recommended that the variety should be grown in areas of sufficient moisture or as an irrigated crop.