Biological characteristics and breeding potential of the Amur grape

Biological characteristics and agronomic potential

Amur grape (Vitis amurensis) belongs to an ancient group of 39 species that have survived since the Tertiary period, and is the only representative among them with high economic value. Due to its origin from the harsh conditions of the Far East, it combines extreme frost resistance with a short growing season. In its natural habitat, the wild vine is adapted to deep soil freezing and high humidity.

• Maximum frost in the wild — down to -44 °C
• Winter hardiness of buds and shoots of the crop — down to -40 °C
• Vine length — up to 25 m
• Stem thickness — up to 18 cm
• Annual precipitation in the range — about 700 mm

For an agronomist, this species is interesting primarily as a rootstock and a source of resistance genes. Grafting European cultivars onto the Amur grape improves shoot maturation and significantly increases their winter hardiness. Most wild forms are dioecious, but hermaphroditic specimens with high berry sugar content have also been discovered.

Berry quality indicators depend heavily on growing conditions and the level of soil moisture. In non-irrigated areas of the temperate zone, the vine suffers from a moisture deficit: shoots grow poorly and do not mature well, and in the north, the berries do not have time to ripen at all. In the Far East, wild grapes accumulate up to 15% sugar with an acidity of 20 g/l. In southern regions, with regular irrigation, these indicators change significantly.

Use in breeding and hybrid cultivars

The biological properties of the Amur grape allow it to be divided into three ecological types: northern, southern, and Chinese. Plants of the northern type originate from areas at the latitude of Khabarovsk, and the southern ones from the latitude of Vladivostok. The Chinese ecotype from more southern regions is distinguished by the greatest growth vigor, large clusters and berries, which makes it especially valuable for breeding work. All three ecotypes possess high frost resistance of the vine, but their resistance to downy mildew varies.

As a result of many years of work by breeders, promising wild forms have been selected and high-class hybrids created. New plants combine the taste qualities of European grapes with the hardiness of the wild parent. The resulting assortment makes it possible to choose a cultivar for almost any climatic zone.

• First cultural forms: Vostochny, Kabaniy krupny, Sibirsky urozhayny, Taygovy.
• First-generation frost-resistant hybrids: Buytur, Russky konkord, Metallichesky.
• Early cold-resistant forms (including hermaphroditic ones): Amursky oboyepoly, Amursky 410, Liana 14, Liana 4, Liana 3. They fruit successfully up to the northern borders of their range.
• Modern winter-hardy cultivars: Fioletovy ranny, Saperavi severny, Vydvizhenets.
• Cultivars with complex resistance to frost and downy mildew: Zolotisty ustoychivy, Vynoslivy, Shabsky.
• Specialized wine hybrids: Negru de Ialoveni (obtained on the basis of the Merlot cultivar).