Breeding report of a new table grape cultivar Qiuzixiang

Qiuzixiang is a table grape cultivar with rich strawberry aroma, selected from the natural hybrid progenies of the grape cultivar Christmas Rose. Sown in the spring following hybridization, the seedlings first fruited after establishment. Due to their superior botanical traits and fruit economic characteristics, an elite individual named as 912-9, was identified as a preliminary superior line. This line exhibited distinct strawberry aroma and good fruit quality, which prompted graft propagation for regional trials. After multi- year observation of grafted seedlings’growth and fruiting habits, 912-9 individual demonstrated stable berry economic traits and high storage tolerance, leading to final selection and naming as Qiuzixiang. This diploid cultivar is a perennial vine fruit tree with moderate growth vigor. Its new shoots have semi-open tips with very sparse appressed tomentum and very weak anthocyanin color intensity. Young leaves have green adaxial surfaces with red patches and medium appressed tomentum between the veins abaxially; the ventral sides at internodes are green, and the flowers are bisexual. Mature leaves are pentagonal and five-lobed, with an average area of 440.0 cm2 , semi-open petiolar sinuses, and mixed straight- and convex-sided serrations approximately 1.0 cm long. Fruit clusters are conical and moderately compact, and lack shoulders, with an average length of 18.00 cm, a width of 12.00 cm, a weight of 495.70 g and a peduncle averaging 5.0 cm in length. Berries are long elliptical and contain 2 seeds, with an average length of 2.8 cm and an average width of 1.6 cm, deep purple skins with no astringency, and crisp flesh with weak anthocyanin color intensity. The average berry weight is 6.11 g, sol-uble solids content 20.70%, and titratable acidity 0.67%. Compared to its parent Qiuhong, Qiuzixiang exhibits significant differences in berry color and aroma type. The fruit of Qiuzixiang possess a rich strawberry aroma, a higher soluble solid content, and superior flavor. Furthermore, Qiuzixiang combines the characteristics of firm and crisp flesh with high storage tolerance, resulting in excellent overall fruit quality. Under open-field cultivation in Shenyang, budbreak occurs approximately on April 23 and berry ripening approximately on September 15. This grape cultivar exhibits moderate cold resistance and is suitable for cultivation in cold, arid, and semi-arid regions such as Shenyang, Liaoning. Yield in the first growth cycle reached 1720 kg per 666.7 m2 . For cultivation, vigorous-rooted seedlings are recommended with spacing configurations of 1.0×2.5-3.0 m, and dragon-vine training with spur pruning should be adopted. Cluster thinning should be performed around half a month before flowering. Fertilizer and water management prioritizes organic and bio-bacterial fertilizers. Apply 5000 kg per 666.7 m2 of organic fertilizer supplemented with appropriate bio-bacterial fertilizer as basal dressing annually after fruit harvest or before spring budbreak, with timely topdressing during the growing season. Irrigation is carried out based on soil moisture, focusing on key periods such as around budbreak, pre-flowering, fruit enlargement, and pre-winter. Pest and disease control follows prevention- first and integrated management principles, employing approved pesticides when needed.