Grape plant named ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’

Abstract

A new distinct variety of grapevine named ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’ abundantly forms attractive large berries having deep blue/black skin coloration in medium clusters. The fruit displays a naturally sweet flavor and is juicy and meaty in texture. The fruit commonly is ready for harvesting during July in San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A, and displays good eating qualities as a table grape. The fruit firmness renders the fruit well amenable for handling, shipping, and storage.

Description

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Vitis vinifera Grapevine.

Variety denomination: The new Grapevine has the varietal denomination ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A breeding program was initiated during the late 90's near Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valley of Central California. In 2004, during this breeding program, a new variety of Vitis vinifera was created by deliberate cross breeding of two parent plants by emasculation of the pollen bearing organ of the female and introducing pollen from another male origin. The female parent of the new variety was the GRZ 4 which is a large meaty black and fertile seedless grape variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e. the pollen parent) of the new variety was GAW 6 which is a large black fleshy, grape variety with a very small seed trace and medium to high fertility (non-patented in the United States).

Comparison of ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’ with its parents:

TABLE 1
				Autumn Royal
		GRZ 4	GAW 6	(Comparison
	ARRAEIGHTEEN	(Mother)	(Father)	Variety)
Seed trace	Small	Small	Small	Prominent
				seed trace
Berry shape	Broad ellipsoid	Round	Round	Ovoid
Bunches	32	36	32-36	30-35
per vine
Berry Color	Blue black	Black	Black	Dark purple

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:GRZ 4×GAW 6

An artificial pollination was created, and the result was an embryo which possessed unique genetic qualities. The rudiments resulting from the above pollination were embryo rescued.

In 2005 the plant was transplanted to Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valley of Central California.

It was found that the new grapevine of the present invention possesses the following combination of the characteristics:

• • (a) Forms attractive large berries having a small and soft seed trace and with a blue-black skin coloration in medium clusters which display a natural flavor,
  • (b) Commonly bears fruit during the month of July in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A., and
  • (c) Bears fruit that is firm and is well amenable for storage, handling, and shipping.

The new variety during observation to date has displayed no visible disease, and has displayed an ability to well resist cold, drought, heat; but sensitive to direct exposure to sun and wind. The fruit of the new variety has been found to display excellent handling and shipping qualities combined with desirable dessert eating qualities.

The new variety of the present invention has been found to undergo asexual propagation beginning in 2007 near Bakersfield in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A. by grafting on mature Thompson rootstock (non-patented in the United States). Such asexual propagation has been conducted thereafter in successive years through 2008, and has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are strictly transmissible from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true to type manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ARRATWENTYSEVEN is a medium size, blue/black table grape with a small seed trace and with a very high production, e.g., about 42 bunches per vine, and an average of about one to two bunches per shoot.

Asexual reproduction by micro propagation of the new variety as performed near Bakersfield, Calif., U.S.A., shows that the forgoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens of vegetative growth of six year old specimens of the new variety, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration of this character. Colors in the photograph may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description below, which accurately describes the colors of the new Grapevine.

FIG. 1 shows leaves, stems and grapes of ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 1995 edition. The description is based on the observation of plants growing on ‘Thompson Seedless’ rootstock outdoors near San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A.

• Vine:
  • • Vigor.—Vigorous upright shoots.
    • Productive capacity.—Bearing at a natural, average capacity. Spur pruning.
    • Trunk.—Strong and developed. Ranges from 2″-2⅜″. Rough with a fibrous, shaggy exterior. Light maple brown coloring.
• Time of bud burst: Early. Date of bud burst in specified location of culture is Feb. 26, 2013 in Bakersfield, Calif.
• Young shoot:
  • • Openness of tip.—Half open.
    • Prostrate hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.
    • Anthocyanin coloration of prostate hairs on tip.—Absent or very weak.
    • Erect hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.
• Young leaf:
  • • Color of upper side of blade.—Green (137-C)).
    • Prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side of blade.—Absent or very sparse.
    • Erect hairs on main veins on lower side of blade.—Absent or very sparse.
• Shoot:
  • • Attitude (before tying).—Semi-erect.
    • Color of dorsal side of internodes.—Yellow-green (144-B).
    • Color of ventral side of internodes.—Yellow-green (144-C).
    • Color of dorsal side of nodes.—Yellow-green (144-A).
    • Color of ventral side of nodes.—Yellow-green (144-D).
    • Erect hairs on internode.—Absent or very sparse.
    • Number of tendrils.—6 at bloom.
    • Length of tendrils.—Long (7.5 inches).
    • Color of tendrils.—Yellow-green (144-D).
• Flower:
  • • Sexual organs.—fully developed stamens and fully developed gynoecium.
• Mature leaf:
  • • Size of blade.—7.5×6 inches.
    • Shape of blade.—Wedge shaped.
    • Blistering of upper side of blade.—Strong.
    • Number of lobes.—Five.
    • Depth of upper lateral sinuses.—Deep.
    • Arrangement of lobes of upper lateral sinuses (only varieties with lobed leaves).—Strongly overlapped.
    • Arrangement of lobes petiole sinus.—Half open.
    • Length of teeth.—Short.
    • Ratio length/width of teeth.—Small.
    • Shape of teeth.—Both sides convex.
    • Proportion of main veins on upper side of blade with anthocyanin coloration.—High.
    • Prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side of blade.—Absent or very sparse.
    • Erect hairs on main veins on lower side of blade.—Absent or very sparse.
    • Length of petiole compared to length of middle vein.—Much longer.
    • Top side color.—Green (137-C).
    • Bottom side color.—Yellow Green (146-C).
    • Texture.—Smooth.
    • Vein color.—Yellow Green (144-D).
    • Petiole length.—9″.
    • Petiole color.—Yellow Green (144-D).
• Reproductive organs:
  • • Color.—Green (137-C).
    • Size.—0.003136″.
• Time of beginning of ripening: Early; Jul. 7, 2013 in Bakersfield, Calif.
• Bunch:
  • • Size (penduncle excluded).—Medium.
    • Density.—Lax.
    • Length of penduncle primary bunch.—Medium.
    • Average bunch weight.—1.5 lbs.
• Berry:
  • • Size.—Large.
    • Length.—1″.
    • Shape.—Broad ellipsoid.
    • Diameter.— 13/16″.
    • Weight.—0.28 oz.
    • Color of skin (without bloom).—Blue black 202-A.
    • Ease of detachment from pedicle.—Moderately easy.
    • Thickness of skin.—Thin.
    • Anthocyanin coloration of flesh.—Weak.
    • Firmness of flesh.—Soft or slightly firm.
    • Particular flavor.—None.
    • Formation of seeds.—Rudimentary.
    • Market use of observed plant.—Fresh market.
    • Berries per bunch.—85-110 berries.
• Woody shoot:
  • • Main color.—Orange brown (grayed orange 177-C).
• Age and growing conditions: Six years growing under Y system in South Joaquin Valley (hot, dry summers).
• Shipping characteristics: (E.g. number of days fruit has been stored under specific conditions):

Fruit was in cold storage. Stored in poly bags inside Styrofoam boxes with sulphur pads.

• • • After 60 days.—Rachises were 65% green; 2% berry shuttering; no berry wrinkling or cracks were apparent.

DNA PROFILE

To further the characterize the new Arra variety DNA was extracted from dried leaf samples and DNA profiles were obtained at California Seed & Plant Lab, California USA using base pairs for 10 standard microsatellite DNA markers. The data is presented hereafter.

Microsatellite
DNA Marker	Allele Sizes in Base Pairs
M1	234	240
M2	249	249
M3	181	194
M4	210	212
M5	273	273
M6	145	151
M7	187	201
M8	247	257
M9	194	212
M10	239	247

The ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’ variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine, botanically known as Vitis vinifera, identified as ‘ARRAEIGHTEEN’, substantially as shown and described herein.