Descriptive Profiling of New and Commercial British Columbia Table Grape Cultivars

Abstract

Independent profiles were developed for the visual and flavor/texture characteristics of four commercial and eight new table grape cultivars from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada breeding program (Summerland). Twelve judges evaluated 11 visual attributes, plus degree of liking (visual), under natural light, and then evaluated 10 flavor/texture attributes, plus degree of liking (flavor/texture), under red light. Visual attributes were assessed for both clusters (color, color uniformity, conformation, size, frequency of shot berries, stem thickness) and berries (size, color uniformity, shape, skin markings). Flavor/texture attributes included skin friability, skin thickness, initial juice release, seededness, flesh firmness, fruit flavor, labrusca flavor, sweetness, sourness and bitterness/astringency. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and principal component analysis. Cultivars profiled included those with small round to large oblong berries. Visual characteristics of cultivars ranged from clusters with a high degree of shouldering and/or tightly packed berries, to those with low shouldering and/or loosely-packed berries. Flavor/texture characteristics of cultivars ranged from those with sweet fruity berries with high skin friability to berries with sour, bitter/astringent flavors with low skin friability (slip skin). Cultivars with the greatest degree of visual liking (highly correlated with berry and cluster size, shape, and color uniformity) included Festivee as well as Summerland Selections 494, 495, 537, and 651. Those with greatest degree of flavor/texture liking (highly correlated to flesh firmness, skin friability, sweetness, and fruity flavor) included Lakemont, plus Summerland Selections 535 and 651. These analyses contributed to the knowledge required for naming and release of new cultivars from the breeding program.