A Comparison of Table Grape Selections Bred at Summerland, British Columbia

Abstract

Several crosses were made between 1977 and 1980 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Center, Summerland, British Columbia to fulfill demand for reliably winter-hardy, high-quality table grapes. By 1986, at least nine were identified as being superior and worthy of second test status. Five of these were white seedless types [Selections 433, 495 ('Skookum Seedless'), 497, 535 ('Sooke Seedless'), 537); also selected were one seedless pink (Selection 434), one seeded white (Selection 494) and one seeded pink (Selection 651). In many cases, these selections proved equal or superior to standard cultivars to which they were compared; these were: 'Himrod', 'Interlaken', 'Lakemont', and 'Romulus' (white seedless); 'Einset Seedless' (pink seedless); 'Seneca' (seeded white), and; 'Festivee' (pink seeded).