Breeding report of a new table grape cultivar Yuanxiangzhi

Yuanxiangzhi is a new mid- ripening table grape cultivar bred by Zhangjiagang Shenyuan Grape Technology Co., Ltd., from a cross between Shine Muscat and Syurei. Our original goal was to obtain a table grape cultivar with excellent agronomic characteristics and rose-scented aroma. In 2015, we obtained a total of 471 hybrid seeds through controlled artificial pollination, from which 264 seedlings were eventually germinated. In 2016, 217 seedlings were transplanted to our research nursery. The hybrid seedlings produced their first fruit in 2018. After years of systematic observation, we selected an outstanding individual line in 2020. This selection exhibited superior performance, including yellowgreen peel, sweet flavor, distinct rose-scented aroma, unique fruit shape, and notably earlier maturation compared with Shine Muscat. From 2020 to 2023, we conducted regional trials and multi-year repeated observations in Jiangsu Province (Zhangjiagang County, Guanyun County) and Yunnan Province (Jianshui County). The new plant variety was finally granted a plant patent and plant variety protection by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the PRC in 2024, and was named Yuanxiangzhi. The tip of the new shoot was semi- open and densely covered with creeping hairs. On the abaxial surface of the young leaf, the main vein was glabrous or bore very few upright hairs, while the interveinal areas were densely pubescent with creeping hairs. The back side of new shoot internodes was green, striped with red or light red, while the ventral side was green and glabrous, lacking upright hairs. The mature leaves were pentagonal in outline, either 3-lobed or 5-lobed. They had a moderately broad petiole depression and a V-shaped base, and the petiole depression was not enclosed by leaf veins. The cluster was medium- sized and conical, with an average weight of 530- 620 g. The berries are moderately densely arranged on the cluster, uniform in size, oval in shape, and had yellow-green peel. The average single ber- ry weight was 9.5 g, and each berry contained 1-2 seeds. Its berry skin had light bloom and was thin, the fruit had no astringency, and the flesh was crisp and juicy with a rich rose aroma. The soluble solids content ranges from 18% to 23%. Yuanxiangzhi exhibited high comprehensive quality. The plant had vigorous growth potential, but its latent bud germination rate was relatively low. Its bud germination rate was recorded at 89.1%, and the fruiting branch rate at 91.5%. This cultivar was characterized by easy flower bud differentiation, averagely 1.8 inflorescences could form per fruiting branch. Overcropping could adversely affect fruit ripening time and quality. A yield of approximately 1500-2000 kg per 666.7 m2 was recommended to ensure optimal fruit quality. These branches were highly mature, so only 1 to 2 buds need to be retained during winter pruning. Under rain-shelter cultivation in southern Jiangsu Province, bud germination began in late March, flowering occurred in early May, and berries reached maturity from late July to early August. Compared with Shine Muscat, the berries of Yuanxiangzhi matured 15-25 days earlier under the same cultivation regime. This cultivar would be well adapted to cultivation in southern Jiangsu Province and most grape- producing areas of China with similar ecological conditions. Rain-shelter cultivation should be recommended for regions with high rainfall, while openfield cultivation would be suitable for cooler areas.