Baoguang, an early-season large berry table grape cultivar

Abstract: Baoguang is an early- season table grape with high quality and large berries. The cultivar was bred from a cross between Kyoho and Zaoheibao in May 2003. Initially, 3098 hybrid seeds were obtained and stratified in 2003. From these seeds, 1293 hybrid seedlings successfully established in 2004. Baoguang was selected in 2006 for its comprehensive performance and tested as C 4-6-4. Then it was evaluated in regional trials in Luannan, Tanghai, and Changli in 2008 and proved to have good fruit quality and high yield. In 2013, this selection was certificated by Hebei Province Forest Variety Certification Committee and named Baoguang. Its vines are moderate to high in vigor on their own roots. The tip of the young shoots has sparse hairs. The young leaf is in green color with yellow spots and the intensity of anthocyanin coloration in the shoot tip is medium. The mature leaf is green, not villous at lower surface and glossy at upper surface. Mature leaves are pentagonal with five lobes and shallow upper cracks. The petiole depression is half open with a“V”shape at the base. The hermaphrodite flowers are usually positioned at the fourth or fifth node. The cluster of Baoguang is large- sized, and conical in shape with no shoulder. The average bunch weight of Baoguang is 717.3 g. The cluster is 19.2 cm in length and 16.5 cm in width on average. The almost round berry has an average weight of 13.7 g, and can be up to 25.0 g in weight, 25.9 mm in width and 29.2 mm in length. The berry contains 1 to 3 seeds and the one hundred seed weight is 9.9 g. The flesh is slightly crispy. The skin is thin to medium thick with a purple- to blue- black color. The soluble solid content is 18.1% on average and can be up to 23.5%; the average titratable acid content is 0.47%; and the ratio of soluble solids to titratable acid is 38.3. In Changli, bud breaks in middle April; florescence occurs in late May and fruit matures in early August. The average period from bud burst to harvest is 117 d. The average bearing shoot ratio is 78.3% and the number of clusters in each bearing shoot is 1.48. Baoguang vines show good productivity, yield-ing about 28.65 tons per hectare. The vine is easy to manage and suitable for protected cultivation. The cultivar has good resistance to powdery mildew and downy mildew.