S20 - Session P2 - Results of three years grape (Vitis spp.) breeding programme

Authors: Arif Atak *, Abdulbaki Sen, Ozlem Boztepe, Yesim Doygaci, Gulhan G. Kandilli

Grape breeding studies continue for different purposes all over the world. Due to the demand for new seedless and large berry cultivars, the number of breeding studies to develop seedless cultivars are increasing. Intensive breeding programs were been carried out to obtain high-quality seedless grape cultivars in different breeding programmes. In this study, carried out over three years, the results obtained from crossing with some polliniser cultivars belonging to different Vitis species were compared. Seedless grape cultivars were used as polliniser parents, but the number of hybrid seeds and the viability of the seed obtained could differ greatly. Maternal cultivars that do not need emasculation (male sterile) and emasculated cultivars were also compared. Evaluations were based on the total number of hybrid seeds and the proportion of viable seeds. In addition, the effects of various treatments on the rates of germination of the hybrid seed were compared. The female parents (with female flower structure) produced many more seeds than did hermaphrodite mothers in 2019. But in 2018 and 2020, different results were obtained in the crosses made. Cold stratification was very effective in increasing germination by breaking dormancy of the hybrid seed. In addition, after treatment of cold moist storage (cold stratification), keeping the seed in distilled water overnight before planting increased germination. Although large numbers of seeds were produced by the female parents, many of these seeds did not germinate. Crosses with the cultivar 'Red Globe' as the maternal parent, produced large numbers of viable seeds and high germination rates.