A new table grape variety ‘Scholar Red'

Abstract: ‘Scholar Red'is a new seeded table grape cultivar bred through crossing between‘Rousalka'and‘Adominique', both are of vinifera genetic background. Fully developed seeds were collected from ripe berries from artificial hybridization pollination in 2005, the seeds were sowed in the spring of2006 after stratification and then the plantlets were moved from seed trays to soil in a greenhouse. In2010, all plants had fructified. After fruit quality test using berry size and sugar content as the major criteria over five years from 2011 to 2015, ‘Scholar Red'was finally selected. The variety is of middle size in cluster with medium compact appearance, the average cluster weight is 500 g at harvest. The berries are oval shape, with 1-2 seeds per berry, weighing averagely 8.9 g, of attractive blue-purple color, it is a variety easy to get skin color, the skin is thin and closely attached to the flesh, not easy to peeling.The flesh is crunchy, juicy and delicate in texture, and no anthocyanin accumulation in the flesh. Berries are of neutral flavor at ripening, the soluble solid content of grapes at harvest grown in the high tunnel is 20.1%, and the overall consumption quality is high. In growth habit, ‘Scholar Red'is a vigorous variety, the vine bud breaks in late March, almost all the new shoots from winter buds bear 1-2 flower clusters, flowers are observed as imperfect flower type, other variety for pollination is required. The flowers bloom in the mid May, the same period as the major table grape varieties, and the berries ripen around middle August in Beijing area. The berries have long storage-life, and there is no problem of falling berries during transportation. The grape can also be kept on the vine for delayed harvest. The variety is suitable for outdoor cultivation in areas where the rainfall is not more than 600 mm in summer, and protected cultivation is required in areas with higher rainfall.‘Scholar Red'is of regular cold resistance as other vinifera cultivars, during the winter burying the vine or using other protected methods are suggested for areas that other vinifera varieties are required.