Grape (Vitis sp.)
Family: Vitaceae
Chromosome number (2n): 38
Origin place: Armenia

• It was introduced in the 11th century in India.
• Grapes is a delicious plant.
• Magnesium (Mg) Deficiency: Common in grape crops universally. Deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis of older leaves.
• Main Organic Acid: Tartaric acid (gives the sour taste).
• Edibility: Grapes are highly nutritious and used as fresh fruits, raisins, juices, wines, and canned products.

Area and Distribution

• The major producers of grape are Italy, France, Spain, USA.
• The area under grape is 1.2% of the total area of fruit crops in the country.
• Production is 2.8% of total fruits produced in the country.
• About 80% of the production comes from Maharashtra followed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Climate and Soil; It is a temperate crop which has got adapted to sub-tropical climate of peninsular India.

Varieties

Commercial Varieties

• Coloured Seeded: Bangalore Blue and Gulabi (Muscat)
• Coloured Seedless: Beauty Seedless and Sharad Seedless
• White Seeded: Anab-e-Shahi, Dilkhush (clone of Anab-e-Shahi)
• White Seedless: Sonaka, Pusa Seedless, Thompson Seedless and its clone Tas-a-Ganesh (occupies 55% area under grape cultivation)

Table Grapes: Utilized as a fresh fruit or for decorative purpose.

• Examples: Thompson Seedless, Beauty Seedless, Bangalore Blue
• Juice Grapes: Examples: Bangalore Blue, Beauty Seedless
• Wine Grapes: Examples: Black Champa, Muscat, Arka Soma, Arka Thrishna
• Canning Grapes: Examples: Thompson Seedless, Pusa Seedless

Hybrid Varieties

• Arkavati = Black Champa × Thompson Seedless
• Arka Kanchan = Anab-e-Shahi × Queen of Vineyard
• Arka Hans = Bangalore Blue × Anab-e-Shahi
• Arka Shyam = Bangalore Blue × Arka Champa
• Arka Majestic = Anab-e-Shahi × Black Champa
• Arka Krishna = Bangalore Blue × Convent Large Black

Seedless Varieties: Thompson Seedless, Pusa Seedless, Delight, Beauty Seedless, Kish Mish

Spacing; The adopted spacing is:

• 3 × 2 m for Muscat
• 4 × 3 m for other varieties

Propagation

• Propagated by hardwood cutting
• Grapes are commonly propagated by stem cutting.
• 20–30 cm long cuttings are made from ripened wood of the previous season.

Training

• The Bower and Telephone systems are being followed on a large scale.
• About 80% of the vineyard area in India is on the Bower system.
• In North India, grapes are pruned in the months of December–January.

• i) Bower System
• Most widely used in commercial cultivation. Suitable for vigorous varieties with high apical dominance.
• Only the best shoot growing vertically is allowed to grow along the stake provided up to the bower height.

• ii) Kniffin System (Espalier System) Less expensive than Bower. Suitable for moderately vigorous varieties with less apical dominance.

Advantages over Bower System:

• Less expensive
• Disease incidence and spread is less
• Easier spraying and cultural operations

Drawback:

• Yield is about half of that obtained from Bower system

iii) Telephone System

Uses T-trellis, shoots hang downwards with T-shaped support and three top wires.
Suitable for moderately vigorous varieties with slightly more apical dominance.

Advantages over Bower System:

• Better ventilation and light interception
• Easier cultural operations and spraying
• Less expensive

Disadvantages over Bower System: Less yield due to fewer canes per unit area

iv) Head System; Least expensive of all the training systems.

Pruning

• Summer Crop; Pruning: December–January, Harvesting: April–May
• Monsoon Crop; Pruning: May–June, Harvesting: August–September

Diseases

• Powdery Mildew; Causal organism: Plasmopara viticola Control: Spray 0.3% wettable sulphur or dust sulphur @ 6–12 kg/ha in morning hours
• Anthracnose; Causal organism: Erysiphe viti, Control: Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture or any copper fungicide @ 0.25%. Increase frequency depending on weather
• Downy Mildew; Control: Same as Anthracnose – 1% Bordeaux mixture or 0.25% copper fungicide

Physiological Diseases

• Hen and Chicken Disease: Due to Boron deficiency
• Berry or Blossom Drop: Due to improper pollination and fertilization
• Pink Berry Formation: Due to high temperature, commonly found in Thompson Seedless

Yield

Post-Harvest Management; The chemical used to reduce the post-harvest drop of fruits is NAA (50 ppm).

Major Diseases

Physiological Disorders

Yield