Vol.4, No.2, 91-101 (2013) Agricultural Sciences http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/as.2013.42015 Performance of interspecific grapevine varieties in north-east Italy Pacifico Daniela1*, Gaiotti Federica2, Giusti Mirella2, Tomasi Diego2 1Agricultural Research Council—Research Centre for Industrial Crops, Bologna, Italy; *Corresponding Author: [email protected] 2Agricultural Research Council—Viticulture Research Centre, Conegliano, Italy Received 3 January 2013; revised 3 February 2013; accepted 10 February 2013 ABSTRACT viticulture because of their tolerance to diseases and in- sects [3,4]. The wine industries in many extra-European A renewed interest in inter-specific varieties has Union countries currently use a high percentage of in- recently emerged, due mainly to producers and ter-specific varieties with good results and fund specific consumers more aware of organic farming and breeding programmes [5]. In Canada, USA, Switzerland, impact of phytochemicals in the environment. Germany and Hungary several inter-specific wines are The assessment of 19 European Vitis hybrids commercialised. was investigated in an area mostly dedicated to Since 1960, inter-specific varieties had been used to viticulture, the North-Eastern Italy. Major agro- successfully introgress tolerance to pests and diseases, nomic traits, yield, quality characteristics and such as powdery mildew (Erysphe necator Schwein), disease resistance were evaluated during a downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) or phylloxera three-year period (2004 to 2006). Wine sensory (Dactulosphaira vitifoliae Ficth.) [6-8]. These varieties analyses were performed and compared with are the result of efforts to combine the quality of tradi- international Vitis vinifera varieties. Even though tional European varieties (Vitis vinifera) and pyramid no genotypes resulted adequate for market re- different resistance traits typical of American varieties lease, the results obtained confirm the potential (Vitis riparia, Vitis labrusca, Vitis aestivalis, Vitis ber- importance of hybrids in an “eco-friendly” viti- landieri and Vitis amurensis). Inter-specific breeding was culture and identify the genotypes interesting especially important after the massive destruction of for further investigation and breeding: GF 138-3 European vineyards, as consequence of the invasion of and GA 48-12 showed good agronomic perfor- serious fungal diseases from the US during the second mance, resistance to more grape diseases and half of the 19th Century. At the beginning of 20th century, high quality wine. over 6000 hybrids were registered in Europe. Unfortu- nately, the offspring of these varieties often lose the sta- Keywords: Hybrids; Organic Viticulture; Yield; ble yield and good quality traits of their European par- Quality; Disease Resistance ents due to the complex polygenic base, which governs the resistance and the quality of the grapes [9,10], dem- 1. INTRODUCTION onstrating that inter-specific breeding methods are quite unsuccessful. Finally, the diffusion of pesticides, the em- Successful viticulture must meet the requests of con- ployment of the first rootstocks tolerant to phylloxera, sumers and growers for good wine quality, disease and the low quality of wines obtained and the possible pre- insect tolerance and low environmental impact [1,2]. Re- sence of toxic metabolites have led to the unpopularity of current environmental issues have increasingly sparked hybrids [11,12]. Since then, crosses have been only per- political-social discussions over the last ten years. The formed in Germany [7,13], Austria [14], France [15] and European agricultural policies implemented guidelines Hungary [16]. In 1990, European wine area cultivated focused on improved management strategies, integrated with hybrids was greatly reduced [0.04%, especially agronomic practices in the vineyard (2009/128/CE Di- concentrated in Romania; 17]. Anyway, for many years, rective) and a reduction in the use of pesticides and fun- the Experimental Station for Viticulture (now CRA-VIT) gicides, using more disease-tolerant varieties in place of in Conegliano (Treviso, Italy) investigated the quality of conventional ones. Hybrid varieties could be the most second-generation inter-specific hybrids [18,19]. In 1986, promising tool for low input, low cost and time-saving the first attempts to use in vitro plantlets to screen grape Copyright © 2013 SciRes. OPEN ACCESS 92 P. Daniela et al. / Agricultural Sciences 4 (2013) 91-101 genotypes for resistance to disease infections were re- were replanted in an experimental vineyard located near ported [20]. More recently, marker-assisted selection Motta di Livenza (Treviso, Italy 45˚47'5.91''N, (MAS) has been use to greatly improve the introduction 12˚35'38.90''E). of genetic complex traits, such as grape quality and dis- The hybrids were monitored for 3 years (2004 to 2006) ease resistance, through reduced time and costs and and compared for agronomic parameters and disease re- avoiding the many problems that typically result from sistance with “Pinot gris”, as this is an international cul- backcrosses [21-25]. tivar widely cultivated in the area. The site is character- Currently, the promising market of hybrids was first rised by a heavy soil (35% - 40% of clay). The climatic established through the cultivation of “Regent” in Ger- data accumulated for 3 years of study, are reported in many, where it is grown over an area of more than 600 Table 2. Approximately 11 - 13 chemical treatments per ha; a future similar trend in Europe, particularly in Italy year against powdery and downy mildew are usually (INFOAM 2000; Deutsches Weinbaujahrbuch 1995- applied because the climate and soil conditions make this 2003), can be foreseen. As soil, location and climate site habitat particularly suitable for high-severity fungal (typically referred together as Terroir) play a central role diseases. Anyway, to assess the resistance against fungal in vine performance and wine qualitative characteristics, diseases, the varieties under investigation were treated the relationship between the hybrids and the environment only four times during the vegetative period, using for- is a crucial aspect that must be considered to evaluate mulations without copper before flowering and with their potential adoption in the investigated area. Thus, the copper hydroxide after flowering. Canopy and soil man- aim of this study was to survey phenological, agronomic agement were conducted according to practices com- and qualitative performances, along with their resistance monly adopted in the vineyards of the area. The vine to the most common vine diseases, of 19 European wine spacing was 3 × 1.7 m (1960 vines/ha), and the vines grape hybrids. were trained using the Sylvoz system, with 3 canes of 10 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS - 12 buds each. The cultivars were grafted on the root- stock Kober 5 BB. The experimental design was repli- 2.1. Site and Genotypes Description cated using three 15-plant blocks for each hybrid. The 19 inter-specific red and white wine grapes varie- 2.2. Analysis ties, listed in Table 1 and present in the field collection of the CRA-VIT (Research Centre for Viticulture) in The main phenological stages, such as budbreak, Conegliano (Treviso, Italy 45˚51'8.92''N, 12˚15'31.53''E) bloom and veraison (defined as 50% of plants upon the Table 1. Inter-specific varieties investigated in the study: colour of berry, origin of varieties and their pedigree are reported. Cultivars Sinonyms Color of berry skin Origin Pedigree A × GM 64-94-5 - Black Geisenheim (D) Arnsburger × GM 64-94-5 (Rondo) Ambror Seibel 10173 White France Seibel 5455 × Seibel 6089 GA 48-12 Geilweilerhof GA 48-12 White Geilweilerhof (D) Bacchus × S.V. 12-375 GA 52-42 Geilweilerhof GA 52-42 White Geilweilerhof (D) Bacchus × Villard Blanc GF 138-3 - Black Geilweilerhof (D) Diana × Chambourcin GF 64-170-1 Geilweilerhof 64-170-1 White Geilweilerhof (D) Bacchus × Seyval GM 723-4 - White Geisenheim (D) Arnsburger × Seyve-Villard 52-76 GM 7743-8 - White Geisenheim (D) Riesling KI.239GM × GM6495-1 Orion GA 58-30 White Geilweilerhof (D) Optima × S.V.12-375 Phoenix GA 49-22 White Geilweilerhof (D) Bacchus × S.V. 12-375 Regent GF 67-198-3 Black Geilweilerhof (D) Diana × Chambourcin Saphira Geisenheim 7815-1 White Geisenheim (D) Arnsburger × Seyve-Villard 1-72 Seibel 5178 - White France (Rupestris X Herbemont) X Seibel 752 Seibel 7052 - Black France Seibel 5163 × Seibel 880 Sirius GA 51-27 White Geilweilerhof (D) Bacchus × S.V. 12-375 Staufer GA 54-14 White Geilweilerhof (D) Bacchus × S.V. 12-375 SV 12-390 Seyve-Villard 12390 Black France Seibel 6468 × Subereux (Seibel 6905) SV 39639 Seyve-Villard 39639 White France SV 19-228 × Villard Noir (SV 18-315) Villard blanc Seyve-Villard 12375 White France Seibel 6468 × Subereux (Seibel 6905) Copyright © 2013 SciRes. OPEN ACCESS P. Daniela et al. / Agricultural Sciences 4 (2013) 91-101 93 Table 2. Average values of mean temperature (˚C) and rainfall Table 3. List of varieties microvinified in the three years under (mm) in the three years under investigation. investigation. 2004 2005 2006 Genotypes 2004 2005 2006 Months Tm Rainfall Tm Rainfall Tm Rainfall Ambror • • • January 4.8 135 1.8 52 4.1 85 GA 48-12 • • February 3.7 53 5.1 28 2.3 34 GA 52-42 • • March 10.5 6 7.1 30 6 6 GF 138-3 • April 11.8 127 11.4 26 12.7 93 Orion • • • May 17.2 51 16.5 149 17.5 110 Phoenix • • • Regent • • • June 20.7 37 19.1 160 21.9 53 Seibel 5178 • • July 21.4 31 24.7 58 21.3 62 Seibel 7052 • August 16.8 71 21.4 93 21.3 153 Sirius • • • September 18 135 16.6 217 15.6 99 Staufer • October 12.6 68 14 4 12.6 202 SV 12390 • November 9.8 49 6.8 42 8.8 105 • marks up the year of microvinification. December 4.2 20 4.6 168 2.9 98 Jan.-Dec. 12.6 783 12.4 1026 12.3 1100 grape from the experimental site and by using the same winemaking process adopted for the hybrids.