Common Problems in Grape Production in Alabama Dr. Elina Coneva Department of Horticulture, Auburn University
U.S. PRODUCTION USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 2018: During the Q1: The U.S. imported higher volumes of table grapes 317,000 MT compared to 303,000 MT in 2017 and 271,000 MT in 2016 Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, South Africa
Grape Production in Alabama 17 Farmer markets in 2007; 146 Farmer markets in 2017
7 wineries in 2007; 17 wineries in 2017
Economically Important Grapes Genus Vitis 60 species of plants - European/ wine grape: V. vinifera - American/ Fox grape: Concord V. labrusca - Muscadine grape: V. rotundifolia
Most acreage: Muscadine Grape Native to the southeastern US Adapted to the hot and humid climate Insect and Disease resistant Average vine produces 35 pounds fruit A good candidate for organic production Popular for fresh consumption, wine, pies, and jellies
PD Resistant Hybrid Bunch Grapes Norton Villard Blanc Black Spanish
PD Resistant Vitis vinifera Grapes
Site Selection Problems Marketing strategy Poor air drainage (plant on a slop) Exposure to sunlight Cold air pockets Poor water drainage Heavy soils Soil ph 5.6-6.4
Cultivar Selection Marketing strategy Cultivar adaptation Pollination biology Harvest season Fruit quality Fruit size Fruit color Dry stem scar
Popular Muscadine Cultivars Bronze: Carlos Magnolia Darlene Pam Black: Nesbitt Noble Black Fry Supreme
Shoot Development, April 12 Black Beauty Ison Loomis
Pollination Biology Female or self-sterile Perfect or self-fertile Marketability of the pollinizer Female - Pam Two or more pollinizer cultivars Perfect - Noble
Cultivar Average Berry Weight, g Black Fry 10 g Janet 13 Black Beauty 13 Late Fry 12 Black Fry 10 Delight 10 Darlene 9 Sugargate 9 Fry 9 Watergate 8 Farrer 8 Precious 8 Higgins 8 Supreme 7 Loomis 7 Jumbo 7 Summit 7 Dixiland 7 Top Sail 6 Triumph 6 Ison 6 Sugar Pop 6 Granny Vail 5 Cowart 5 Dixie 4
EARLY FRY Early Ripening Very Good Yield Large, sweet berries Prone to Black Rot
PAM Female Highest Yield Highly Vigorous High Number of Berries per Cluster Large Berry Size
DARLENE Largest Berry Very Good Yield High Sugar Content
BLACK BEAUTY Good Crop Med. Fruit Size High Sugar
Fry Seedless Seedless Self-fruitful Cluster ripens uniformly easy to harvest Low productivity Small berry size
RazzMatazz Muscadine X Table Grape hybrid Seedless Self-fertile Continuously fruiting along the shoot Highly disease resistant Sweet and tasty with a crisp texture Grown on patios
SOUTHERN HOME A hybrid between Muscadine and French grape Small berry size Good flavor and overall quality Crisp flesh texture
SOUTHERN HOME The cut leaf pattern has ornamental value
Building the Trellis Systems The end posts are the pull posts sometimes not braced A wire strainer not always installed to keep the wire tight
Choice of Training System Single wire bilateral cordon: 16-20 ft X 10-12 ft
Training Systems: Geneva Double Curtain Planting Distance: 8-10 Ft X 12-14 Ft
Dormant Pruning Issues
Dormant Pruning Issues Missing a season, pruning not conducted every year Spurs on the cordon trained vines not adequately shortened, over the optimal 2-4 buds retained
Dormant Pruning Issues Tendrils wrapped around the permanent parts on the vine not completely removed
Muscadine Diseases Susceptible Black Rot Powdery Mildew Bitter Rot Macrophoma Rot Ripe Rot Angular Leaf Spot Dead Arm Pierce s Disease Crown Gall Resistant Anthracnose Botrytis Bunch Rot Downy Mildew Phomopsis Pierce s Disease Viruses
Black Rot Black Rot Earliest leaf disease of the season Causes leaf spots and superficial scabs on fruit Carlos and Early Fry are susceptible
Muscadine Diseases Powdery Mildew Bitter Rot Macrophoma Rot
In general, dark grapes are more rot resistant than bronze grapes
Dieback Dead Arm Disease Fungus - Botryosphaeria sp. Can quickly kill even mature vine Often observed on plants as they come out of dormancy
Grape Root Borer Image credit: The Ohio State University
Grape Wasps Damage
Organic Muscadine Production A good candidate for commercial organic production Immune to Bunch Grape Anthracnose Immune to Downy Mildew Physically tough, thick-skinned Sulfur or Serenade can control Powdery Mildew
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