SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: NE2220 : Multi-state Coordinated Evaluation of Grape Cultivars and Clones
- Period Covered: 10/01/2023 to 09/30/2024
- Date of Report: 12/25/1969
- Annual Meeting Dates: 10/24/2024 to 10/25/2024
Participants
Bethany Pelletier (VT), Girl 2 (NY), Jason Londo (NY), Harlene Hatterman-Valenti (ND), Anne Fennell (SD), Soon-Li Teh (MN), Esmaeil Nasrollahiazar (MI), Aude Watrelot (IA), Suzanne Slack (IA), Brooke Dietsch (IA), Randal Vos (IA), Gail Nonnecke (IA), Horst Caspari (CO), Elsa Petit (MA), Stephan Sommer (MO), Dean Volenberg (MO), Anne Zwink (IA - industry), and Christie Jensen (IA - industry). Virtual attendees: Andrej Svyantek (MT), Margaret Smith (NY)
The minutes are included in the attached document.
Accomplishments
The meeting highlighted significant progress in cold hardy grape and wine making research, including:
- Advancements in cold-hardy cultivar identification and evaluation, such as Itasca and MN1419.
- Successful implementation of weekly berry sampling reports in Iowa, providing real-time data for growers and contributing to enhanced decision-making.
- Collaborative efforts across states to address trunk splitting, climate challenges, and disease resistance.
- Integration of innovative bird control methods in Michigan, reducing crop losses and paving the way for further technological development.
- Exploration of historical cultivars in Missouri, fostering renewed interest in hybrid varieties internationally.
- Adaptive strategies in vineyard management, such as cane pruning in Vermont and caterpillar tunnel trials in North Dakota, showing promise for improved yield and quality. The diverse initiatives and collaborative projects underscore the collective commitment to advancing viticulture and addressing regional challenges effectively.
Grant funding leveraged:
Anne Fennel:
Funding Source: South Dakota Specialty Crop Block Grant Project
Title: Mitigating freezing damage in emerging wine and seedless table grapes during
fall acclimation and spring deacclimation.
Total Amount: $105,057
Dean Volenburg and Stephan Sommer:
Funding Source: 2025 Missouri state budget, HB2006
Title: HB2006 University of Missouri Grape and Wine Institute Research Center and Viticulture Facility
Total Amount: $3,000,000
Impacts
- Conducted extensive evaluations across multiple states to assess the regional adaptability of promising cultivars and clones.
- Generated data on cold hardiness, pest and disease resistance, and fruit quality characteristics tailored to regional conditions.
- Identified cultivars like Itasca and MN1419 as highly cold-hardy with favorable viticultural traits, providing growers with new options for expanding production into colder climates.
- Evaluated advanced breeding lines (pre-commercial) for viticultural traits, regional adaptation, and enological attributes.
- Highlighted the performance of MN1369 for its disease resistance, unique flavor profile, and potential for extended storage and harvest windows.
- Conducted trials on ND54 and ND213, noting their suitability for regions with extreme climate variability.
- Introduced disease-resistant cultivars released in Europe and assessed their economic potential for U.S. grape production.
- Initiated evaluations of less-known and underutilized cultivars, such as Harbinger and Hansansky Sladky, emphasizing unique flavor profiles and adaptation potential.
- Collaborated with international breeding programs to explore Asian plant introductions, providing genetic diversity to enhance resilience against emerging pests and diseases.
- Grower Adoption of Resilient Cultivars: The project’s data-driven recommendations have guided growers in selecting cultivars with improved cold hardiness and pest resistance, reducing economic losses and enhancing sustainability. Recommendations for cultivar-specific management practices, such as canopy management and pest control, have been disseminated through extension efforts, improving vineyard productivity.
- Economics: Evaluations of underutilized and emerging grape cultivars have identified opportunities for market development, including work on hybrid grape cultivars that might appeal to both domestic and international wine markets.
- Viticulture Long-Term Outcomes: The NE2220 project aims to transform U.S. grape production by diversifying grape cultivars and enhancing resilience against climate and pest challenges while supporting sustainable practices. These efforts contribute to a healthy grape and wine industry, driving economic growth and long-term viability in a competitive global wine market.
Publications
Publications are noted in the attached.