A History of Bunch Grapes Research in Mississippi

Abstract

Bunch grapes research in Mississippi has helped shape the current grape industry in the southeastern United States. Cultural management studies, cultivar and rootstock trials, processing (wine, juice, raisin), and Pierce’s disease research all contributed to the base knowledge of the region. Research began at Mississippi A&M College as early as 1888 and presently continues at Mississippi State University. The most impactful research over the years was primarily in the areas of Pierce’s disease identification and plant response and cultivar development. Norman Loomis, United States Department of Agriculture, pushed grape research forward in Mississippi for decades. His work was influential and eventually led to the release of three bunch grape cultivars, Miss Blanc, Miss Blue, and MidSouth. Today, the grape industry in Mississippi is very small, but with rapidly growing industries in surrounding states it seems only a matter of time before Mississippi follows and grape research once again becomes a substantial area of interest.