Genetic improvement for crossbreeding in table grape varieties

Genetic improvement by crossbreeding of table grape varieties was realized at the Istituto Sperimentale per la Viticoltura for the achievement of the following main targets: early species, seedless species, species with high content of fructose in grapes and, at the same time, a research concerning the hereditary transmission of these features. The results are the followings: Registration in the National Catalogue of the varieties of 4 new table grape varieties that are interesting for their ripening (IC. 199, LC. 218, IC. 120, IC. 213).Information concerning the heritability of earliness, average weight of grape and bunch for the varieties examined.Achievement of varieties that have a ratio between the two monosaccharides considerably tending towards fructose. This feature remains constant throughout the years

Search for genotypes resistant to Plasmopara viticola by crossbreeding

Crossbreeding between Vitis vinifera and hybrids resistant to some grapevine diseases began in 1985 in order to create biotypes which are tolerant or resistant to Plasmopara viticola. Oidium tuckeri and Botrytis cinerea and show quality features similar as the European parent varieties (Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Prosecco, Moscato bianco and Cabernet Sauvignon) in order to reduce chemical plant protection practices. Analysis of the F1 population emphasized that 20% of the plants have a favourable tolerance to downy mildew and can be employed in back-crossbreeding with European varieties. This proves that there is a different intensity of leaf reaction to the pathogenic agent. The above-mentioned tolerance appeared to be steady throughout the years. An interesting tolerance to oidium was also recorded in open field and greenhouse cultivations