Morphological Description and Evaluation of Six Newly- Introduced Grape Cultivars under Egyptian Conditions.

Abstract

Six newly-introduced grape cultivars nemely Arra 30, Arra 29, Arra 13, Arra 24, Arra 27, and Arra 15, were investigated in three successive seasons ( 2014, 2015 & 2016) for description and evaluation under Egyptian conditions.The cultivars were grown in a private vineyard situated at Birqash region – Giza governorate, Egypt. Vines were planted in sandy soil spaced 3X2 meters apart and irrigated by drip irrigation system and supported by Gable system. The study included time of bud burst, young shoots, young leaves, shoot, and time of bloom, flower, mature leaf, beside determining time of ripening, Bunch, berry, Tss, Acidity, Tss / acid ratio, and seed formation.The studied cultivars were characterized by good vegetative growth and good fruit quality. The tips of the studied cultivars were fully open Color of upper side of blade for the young leaf was green with anthocyanin spots in Arra 30, Arra 29, and Arra 24, but dark copper- red in Arra 13, and Arra 27, while light copper-red in Arra 15. The internode was long, thick and number of consecutive tendrils were less than three in all cultivars. The tip of tendril was tri-fid in Arra 29 & 15 while di-fid in Arra 13, it was di-tri in Arra 30,Arra 24 and Arra 27. The length of tendril was very long in Arra 30, Arra 29, and Arra15 and long in Arra 13, Arra 24 and Arra 27. Entire of cultivars had flowers with male and female parts fully stamens and developed gynoecium in all studied cultivars. The shape of blade was circular in Arra 27, and Arra 15, and pentagonal in the other cultivars. Depth of upper lateral sinuses was shallow in Arra 29 , Arra 27 and Arra 15 while was very deep in Arra 30 , Arra 13, and Arra 24. Arrangement of lobes of upper lateral sinuses was closed in Arra 27, and Arra 15, but slightly overlapped in the others . Petiole sinus slightly open at Arra 30, Arra 24, and Arra 15, wheaser half open in Arra 13, and Arra 27, and wide open in Arra 29. Petiole shape was u- shape in Arra 29, , Arra 13, and Arra 24, while it was v-u shape at the others. Length of petiole as compared to middle vein was moderately shorter as well as sinus limited by veins which was constantly absent in all cultivars. Anthocyanin pigment of main veins on the upper side of blades was strong in Arra 30, very low in Arra 29, low in Arra 24, and absent in the others. Yield / Feedan data showed that consequently for the studies cultivars were Arra 15> Arra 29 > Arra 30> Arra 27> Arra 24> Arra 13.Bunch weight of all studied cultivars was big, bunch shape was shouldered in Arra 30, Arra 27, and Arra 15, conical in Arra 29, and Arra 13, while winged in Arra 24. Berry shape in Arra 30, Arra 13, and Arra 15, was cylindrical and obtuse ovoid in Arra 29, And Arra 27, while broad ellipsoid in Arra 24. Berry color in Arra 30, and Arra 15, light green, while bright red in Arra 29, reddish black in Arra 24, dark red violet in Arra 13, and blue black in Arra 27. Formation of seeds was absent in Arra 29 and Arra 15, but rudimentary in the others (All cultivars seedless). Arra 24, ripened in the last week of May, Arra 30, and Arra 29, in the second week of June, Arra 13, in the third week of June while Arra 27, and Arra 15, in the third week of July. Woody shoot for the studied cultivar was yellowish brown expect Arra 13, which was dark brown and the relief surface for all cultivars was striate. Bud fertility lengthwise the cane increased gradually from the basal buds to middle buds than decreased gradually towards the distal buds, except with the variety Arra 13, as it increased at the basal buds then steadiness at middle and distal bud. It can be recommended to prune Arra 30, Arra 29, Arra 27, Arra 24, and Arra 15, to cane pruning system ( 8-10 buds / cane ) while Arra 13, to be pruned according to the spur pruning system ( 2 buds).