Latin name of the genus and species claimed: Vitis vinifera.
Variety denomination: ‘SUGRAFORTYNINE’.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of grapevine, ‘Sugrafortynine’, as herein described and illustrated. The new variety was first selected as breeder number ‘GR313B’ by Terry A. Bacon in Wasco, Kern County, Calif. in July 2012. The variety was originated by controlled hybridization.
The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ is characterized by a very early harvest date, the production of a medium to large sized, black, narrow elliptic berry and a very large bunch size. The berries of ‘Sugrafortynine’ are moderately firm.
The seed parent is the varietal selection ‘04035-204-488’ (unpatented) and the pollen parent is ‘Sugrathirteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,434). The parent varieties were first crossed in May 2010. The date of first sowing was Mar. 2011, and the date of first flowering was May 2012.
The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ was first asexually propagated in December 2012 in Wasco, Kern County, Calif., by Terry A. Bacon using hardwood cuttings.
The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ differs from its seed parent ‘04035-204-488’ (unpatented) in that the new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ has a larger cluster size at about 650 g compared to 450 g for ‘04035-204-488’. The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ also differs from its seed parent ‘04035-204-488’ in that the new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ has a larger berry size at 5 g compared to 2 g for ‘04035-204-488’.
The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ is similar to its pollen parent ‘Sugrathirteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,434) in appearance but the new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ begins ripening about 18 days earlier, on June 28 compared to July 17 for ‘Sugrathirteen’.
The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ has a berry color that is similar to the USDA variety ‘Summer Royal’ (unpatented), but the new variety berry shape is narrow elliptic, compared globose for ‘Summer Royal’. The new variety ‘Sugrafortynine’ has a larger black berry compared to a smaller red berry from ‘Flame Seedless’ (unpatented), and the new variety berry shape is narrow elliptic, compared globose for ‘Flame Seedless’.
The new ‘Sugrafortynine’ variety has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, cuttings and grafting.
Variations of the usual magnitude from the characteristics described herein may occur with changes in any of a variety of factors such as growing conditions, irrigation, fertilization, pruning, management and climatic variation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new grape variety ‘Sugrafortynine’. The illustration shows the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves and exterior and sectional views of the fruit. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after the fruit was picked and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1986.
Many of the descriptive values in this specification are based on and conform to those set forth by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources Institute Grape Descriptors (Vitis spp.) of 1983 and/or 1997, which was developed in collaboration with the Office International de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).
The descriptive matter which follows pertains to four year old ‘Sugrafortynine’ plants grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif. during 2016, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.
- Vine:
- General.—(Measurements taken on a four year old plant). Vine Size: Large. Height: Approximately 2.0 m. Width: Approximately 2.5 m. Vigor: Vigorous. Density of foliage: Dense. Productivity: Very productive. Crop load: Approximately 30 kg per vine after thinning. Own root: Yes. Training method: Typically spur pruned leaving 2 bud spurs. Resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.
- Trunk.—Shape: Stocky. Diameter: Approximately 7 cm (at 30 cm above the soil line). Straps: Short. Surface texture: Medium shaggy. Inner and Outer bark color: Inner bark about Medium Greyed-Orange 164B and Light Greyed-Green 188D to Medium Greyed-Green 188A in outer bark.
- Shoots:
- Young shoot.—Form of tip: Half open. Intensity of anthocyanin coloration of tip: Absent or very weak. Density of prostrate hairs on tip: Absent or very sparse. Density of erect hairs on tip: Very sparse. Color: About Medium Yellow-Green 144A.
- Woody shoot (observations made in the middle third of shoot).—Attitude before tying: Semi-drooping to drooping. Growth of axillary shoots: Medium strong, mainly 17 to 30 cm. Internode length: Long, Approximately 80 mm to 95 mm. Width at node: Approximately 15 mm. Cross section: Circular. Surface texture: Striated. Main Color: About Medium Greyed-Orange 166D. Color of dorsal side of internode: About Medium Greyed-Orange 166D. Color of ventral side of internode: About Medium Greyed-Orange 166C. Color of dorsal side of node: About Medium Greyed-Orange 166C. Color of ventral side of node: About Medium Greyed-Orange 166C. Density of erect hairs on nodes: Absent or Very Sparse. Density of erect hairs on internodes: Absent or Very Sparse. Density of prostrate hairs on internodes: Absent or Very Sparse. Density of prostrate hairs on nodes: Absent or Very Sparse.
- Tendrils.—Distribution on the shoot at full flowering: Discontinuous. Thickness: Approximately 4 mm. Color: About Light Yellow-Green 148D in mid-summer. Form: Bifurcated. Number of consecutive tendrils: Up to 2. Length of tendril: Medium, approximately 16.5 cm.
- Leaves:
- Young leaves.—Color of upper surface of first 4 distal unfolded leaves: About Medium Yellow-Green 144A. Average intensity of anthocyanin coloration of six distal leaves prior to flowering: Absent. Density of prostrate hairs between veins at lower surface of 4th distal unfolded leaf: Absent or very sparse. Density of erect hairs between veins at lower surface of 4th distal unfolded leaf: Absent or very sparse. Density of prostrate hairs on veins at lower surface of 4th distal unfolded leaf: Absent or very sparse. Density of erect hairs on veins at lower surface of 4th distal unfolded leaf: Sparse to medium sparse.
- Mature leaves (Observations made on leaves in the middle third of shoot).—Average length: Large, approximately 13 cm. Average width: Large, approximately 15 cm. Shape of blade: Pentagonal. Number of lobes: Approximately 5. Mature leaf profile: Undulate. Blistering surface of blade upper surface: Absent or very weak. Leaf blade tip: In the plane of the leaf. Undulation of margin: Slight. Thickness: Average— typical of Vitis vinifera species. Overall shape of teeth: Mixture of both sides straight and both sides convex. Length of teeth: Medium, ranging from about 3 mm to 10 mm. Ratio length/width of teeth: Very small. General shape of petiole sinus lobes: Wide open. Tooth at petiole sinus: Absent. Petiole sinus limited by veins: Absent. Shape of upper lateral sinus lobes: Open. Depth of upper lateral sinuses: Shallow, approximately 20 mm to 40 mm. Density of prostrate hairs between veins on lower surface of blade: Absent to very sparse. Density of erect hairs between veins on lower surface of blade: Absent to very sparse. Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on lower surface of blade: Absent to very sparse. Density of erect hairs on main veins on lower surface of blade: Absent to very sparse. Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on upper surface of blade: Absent to very sparse. Autumn coloration of leaves: About Dark Green 139A becoming Medium Greyed-Red 181C to Dark Greyed-Red 181A.
- Upper leaf surface.—Color: About Medium Green 138A. Surface texture: Smooth. Surface appearance: Dull. Anthocyanin coloration of main veins: Absent or very sparse.
- Lower leaf surface.—Color: About Light Green 138C. Surface texture: Smooth. Surface appearance: Dull. Anthocyanin coloration of main veins: Absent or very sparse.
- Petiole.—Length of petiole: Medium, approximately 50 mm to 90 mm, mainly 70 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3 mm. Length of petiole compared to middle vein: Slightly shorter, 70 mm for the petiole compared to 130 mm for the middle vein. Density of prostrate hairs on petiole: Absent. Density of erect hairs on petiole: Absent. Color: About Medium Green 138B becoming Light Greyed-Red 182D as it ages.
- Buds.—Shape: Conical. Size: Medium, approximately 3 mm wide×4 mm long. Position: Slightly held out. Bud fruitfulness: Basal, mostly fruitful, 3rd to 5th bud position. Time of bud burst: Medium for the area of Wasco, Calif. Approximately March 13th.
- Flowers:
- General.—Flower type: Fully developed stamen and fully developed gynoecium. Position of first flowering node: Usually 3rd to 4th node of current season growth. Number of inflorescences per shoot: Approximately 1 to 2 with an average of about 1.5. Time of full bloom: Medium for the area of Wasco, Calif. Approximately April 30th.
- Fruit:
- General.—Ripening period: Very early; maturity begins about June 27th with mid-maturity about July 2nd in the area of Wasco, Calif. Use: Fresh market. Storage quality: Good for at least 5 weeks.
- Cluster.—Form: Conical, shouldered. Cluster size (peduncle excluded): Large, uniform. Cluster length (peduncle excluded): Approximately 19 cm. Cluster width: Approximately 13 cm. Cluster weight: Approximately 650 g. Cluster density: Medium, loose and full. Number of berries: Approximately 130-150 berries, usually about 140.
- Peduncle.—Length: Medium, approximately 2.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6 mm. Lignification of peduncle: Weak. Color: Medium Yellow-Green 146C.
- Berry.—Size: Medium-large, natural size averages 5 g. Dimensions: Longitudinal axis: Approximately 26 mm. Horizontal axis: Approximately 19 mm. Uniformity of size: Uniform. Shape: Narrow elliptic. Cross section: Circular. Skin color (without bloom): About Black 202A. Flesh color: Usually about Medium Green 137D. Anthocyanin color of flesh: Absent or very weak. Bloom (cuticular wax): Medium. Pedicel length: Approximately 7 mm. Pedicel thickness: Medium, approximately 1.5 mm. Berry separation from pedicel: Moderately easy. Seed traces: Berries contain 1 to 3 rudimentary soft seed traces per berry. The seed traces are about Medium Greyed-White 156B. Berry firmness: Moderately firm. Flesh Juiciness: Juicy. Flesh texture: Crisp. Particular flavor: Fruity. Refractometer test: About 19 Brix. Juice pH: About 3.6. Titratable acidity: About 0.49%. Brix: Acid Ratio: Approximately 38.8.
- Skin.—Skin thickness: Medium, about 175 μm. Skin texture: Smooth. Skin reticulation: Absent. Skin tenacity: Tenacious to flesh. Skin tendency to crack: Low. Skin sensitivity to sunburn: None or very low.