The new varieties, which according to Patricia Ritschel and João Dimas Garcia Maia, coordinators of the Improvement Program, have features that meet the demands of producers working with table grapes, are the BRS Vitória, BRS Isis and BRS Núbia.
The first two varieties stand out, as they are tolerant to mildew, the main disease affecting grapevines in Brazil, while the BRS Núbia is a variety that requires less labour for cultivation.
"Tolerance to the mildew can mean a reduction in the number of fungicide applications traditionally used for the table grape, i.e. the culture adjusts to the perspective of promoting sustainable agriculture, one of the priorities of our Improvement Program, " said the researcher in a press release issued by Embrapa.
Varieties
The BRS Vitória is a seedless table grape variety tolerant to mildew, a feature that ensures a more sustainable production given the reduction in the use of fungicides. This variety is black and its flavour has a hint of raspberry. It has been tested in the regions of São Paulo, Paraná, Minas Gerais and in the San Francisco Valley. It is vigorous, and has an early high productive cycle yielding between 25 and 30 tons per hectare. Its sugar content is above 19 ° Brix and it can reach 23 ° Brix in tropical regions.
The BRS Isis is a red seedless table grape variety of table grapes that is tolerant to mildew. It is well adapted to the tropical climate of Brazil and has high levels of phenolic compounds. It stands out for its high fertility of buds, stem grip and natural fruit size, which has a firm texture and mild flavour.
BRS Núbia is a black table grape variety with seeds. It adapts well to Brazil's subtropical and tropical climate. This variety needs less labour to cultivate it and it's colour is uniform. It yields grapes of higher size -an average of 24-34 mm- without having to use growth regulators. Its fruit has a good post-harvest conservation.
Source: Fresh Fruit Portal