The Quest for the Perfect Grape: Is There One "Best" Variety?
Do you believe there is a resistant table grape variety with such ideal parameters that it is destined to be the best of them all? Is it even fair to ask such a question? After all, viticulture is a textbook example of the constant interplay between genetic disposition and the ever-changing factors of the environment.
It seems that while we are constantly approaching the "ideal" variety, we never quite reach it - despite the many remarkable new varieties that appear every year.
Adaptation Over Perfection
For us growers, the priority is to quickly assess the cultivation traits of a new, "raw" variety on our own land. It’s about harmonizing a variety’s genetic potential with the specific soil and climate conditions of a site. In practice, if your plot isn't perfect, you likely won't trade it for a better one. Therefore, it is far more practical to seek out "plastic" or adaptable varieties that aren't overly demanding regarding their location.
The Power of Clonal Selection
Have you ever considered the true meaning of "clonal selection"? This promising field of breeding can correct certain genetic shortcomings in new table grape varieties. Its goal is to identify promising clones and enhance their performance characteristics.
Interestingly, through vegetative reproduction, a variety (or its clone) essentially becomes "genetically older" and more resilient to mutations. Genetic traits tend to stabilize only after a period of continuous vegetative propagation. Consequently, a young variety - especially one resulting from interspecific crossing - is often genetically unstable, carrying a mix of traits from diverse ancestors.
A critical issue in clonal selection remains the proper choice of propagation material. For a new variety, only 10–12 buds on a one-year-old shoot (following the last cluster) are typically suitable for vegetative reproduction. Buds further from the root are more prone to genetic variation and may not remain true to the type.
The Mystery of Genetic Stability
How long does it take for a viticulturist to be certain a variety is genetically stable? There is no precise definition; opinions in the field vary.
Life is not static, and nature is in a constant state of flux. This is why breeders propagate young varieties with a keen eye on potential instability. By following strict breeding practices - starting from the original seedling and moving through daughter vines - the best traits are gradually concentrated into the clone. It is vital to select buds from vigorous, young, and well-developed vines that exhibit the highest quality characteristics.
Sometimes, due to genetic instability, a new variety grafted onto a rootstock can even take on the rootstock's characteristics. For instance, the Arkadia variety, when grafted onto Vitis riparia, can produce overly dense clusters or slightly deformed berries. In another case, the variety Ananasny underwent such a significant change in berry shape and color during grafting that it essentially became a new variety altogether.
The Talisman grape variety Clones
The importance of genetic stability and the potential of clonal variability is best illustrated by a story from Nikolay Prokhorovich Budyak, an amateur breeder from Ukraine.
Sometime in the 1990s, the famous viticulturist S. H. Leonov brought the Talisman grape variety to Ukraine from breeder I.O. Kostrikin from Novocherkassk. To test it, Mr. Budjak grafted it onto an old Damaskaya Roza and an Izyuminka grape bush. The first fruits appeared the following year - large, oval, and without "shriveling" (millerandage).
Over time, he noticed that the vine grafted onto Izyuminka produced more elongated berries. Further observation revealed differences not just in shape, but in ripening times and sugar concentration. As a result, he isolated three distinct clones: Talisman Stimul, Talisman Pamyati Leonova, and Talisman Ovalnyi.
These clones boast massive berries (up to 42x31 mm), excellent pollination, and minimal seeds. Some ripen as early as mid-August and can hang on the vine for a long time, only improving in flavor.
What can we conclude from this? Varieties like Talisman and its superior clones are among the most exciting prospects for intensive viticulture. In one trial, the Talisman Ovalnyi clone yielded an impressive 40 kg per vine without any loss in quality.
Ultimately, every grower - with a bit of luck - will find the variety that suits them best. Given the diverse landscapes of regions like Slovakia, our vineyards will always remain a rich mosaic of different varieties.
So, let's return to the original question: "Which resistant table grape variety is the best?"
The answer is simple: The one growing in your own vineyard.
