Performance of Muscadine Grape Cultivars in Southern Georgia

Abstract

A trial of 31 muscadine grape cultivars was evaluated insouthern Georgia, USA, from 2004 through 2008. The vineyardwas planted in 2000 and expanded in 2006. Vines were evaluated for vigor, leaf and fruit disease, harvest period, ripening uniformity, pedicel scar, and visual estimation of crop load. In 2007 and 2008 berry weight, berry diameter, and percent soluble solids was measured on a subset of the cultivars. Based on these data, ‘Early Fry’, ‘Fry’, ‘Summit’ and ‘Supreme’ are recommended as main cultivars for the commercial fresh fruit market in Georgia. ‘Triumph’, ‘Tara’, an‘Granny Val’ are recommended as commercial market pollinizers. Additionally ‘Nesbitt’ and ‘Cowart’ are recommended as pick-your-own pollinizers. ‘Noble’ is recommended as a blackjuice grape, and growers are encouraged to try ‘Doreen’ an‘Welder’ as replacements for ‘Carlos’ as bronze juice grapeswith better fruit rot resistance.