Patent Application
20160242337
Vitis×vinifera (hybrid)
‘Petit Merlot
The present invention relates to a new and distinct summer/fall bearing grapevine variety, botanically known as Vitis vinifera, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Petit Merlot’.
The new grapevine ‘Petit Merlot’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventors in Udine, Italy. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new grapevine variety particularly characterized by resistance to cold (<−20° C.), resistance to downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola), and tolerance to powdery mildew (Uncinula necator).
The new grapevine ‘Petit Merlot’ originated from a cross made by the inventors in 2002 in Udine, Italy. The female or seed parent is the grapevine variety, Vitis vinifera cv. ‘Merlot’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is the grapevine variety, Vitis cv. ‘20/3’ (Bianca×SK77-4/5) (unpatented).
The new grapevine ‘Petit Merlot’ was discovered and selected by the inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2002 in Udine, Italy. Asexual reproduction of the new grapevine variety by grafting was first performed in February 2004 in Rauscedo, Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.
‘Petit Merlot’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the temperate regions with average yearly temperature about 13° C., minimum winter temperature about −20° C., annual rainfall around 700-1500 mm of rain (e.g. North-Eastern Italy, Friuli) . This region provides the necessary year-round temperatures required for it to produce and maintain a strong vigorous plant with consistent fruit production from April through November on primocanes and in the ensuing year from April through November on the floricanes.
The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Petit Merlot’, which in combination distinguish this grapevine plant as a new and distinct variety.
1. Medium vigor;
2. Erect growth habit;
3. Medium sized, circular shaped leaves with medium to medium green upper surfaces and light green lower surfaces and, medium texture;
4. Small, conical, medium dense berry clusters with two middle size wings; blue-black berries with slightly firm flesh, none to herbaceous taste, and none to very weak flesh coloration; primarily used for wine and maturing in early September (Middle Friuli, North-Eastern Italy);
5. Primocanes and floricanes with a circular cross section, brownish colour, no lenticels, and short-medium internodes (diameter 8 mm);
6. Harvesting time in early September (Middle Friuli, North-Eastern Italy); and
7. Resistance to winter temperature (−22° C.), resistance to downy mildew, and tolerance to powdery mildew.
Plants of the new grapevine ‘Petit Merlot differ from plants of the parents, Vitis vinifera ‘Merlot’ (unpatented) and Vitis cross ‘20/3’ (unpatented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1.
Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar to the new grapevine ‘Petit Merlot’ is the female parent ‘Merlot’, to which a comparison has been provided above.
The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new grapevine Petit Merlot showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of Petit Merlot.
The following description of ‘Petit Merlot’ unless otherwise noted, is based on observations taken during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 growing seasons(s) in Udine, Italy and Fossalon di Grado (GO), Italy. from plants dug from a nursery located in Rauscedo (PN), Italy during the beginning of December 2007 and planted approximately 16 to 20 weeks later in Udine, Italy and Fossalon di Grado (GO), Italy. The phenotypical descriptions and color designations stated for the new variety may vary, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type, location and cultural conditions. ‘Petit Merlot’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.
