PUNE: The scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a high-yielding hybrid variety of grapes ‘ARI-516’. These are resistant to fungal diseases and has excellent juice quality, stated a release issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
This variety of grapes was recently identified for release by the Varietal Identification Committee of ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Project on fruit, for cultivation in Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
The hybrid variety has been developed by interbreeding of two species from the same genus- Catawba variety of Vitis Labrusca and Beauty seedless variety of Vitis Vinifera. The work that has been published in the ‘Proceedings of the International Symposium on Grape Production and Processing’ is a result of a collaboration between the Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science and ARI which can benefit farmers, processing industry and consumers.
Dr Sujata Tetali, Scientist, Genetics & Plant Breeding Group from MACS-ARI, has developed this inter-specific variety. The fungal resistance of ARI-516 has been derived from Catawba, which is an American grape variety. It has superior quality fruits and higher yield per unit area. This is an early ripening hybrid, which matures in 110-120 days after pruning. The variety has elongated bunches and bears pleasant musky flavoured berries and performs well in Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and West Bengal.
It is also suitable for preparation of juice, raisin, jam and red wine and farmers are enthusiastically adopting the variety. Moderately resistant to a majority of fungal diseases, its cost of production is lower. The area under cultivation of ARI-516 is steadily growing and has grown up to 100 acres.
