Agronomic performance of ‘BRS Melodia’ seedless table grape grafted onto different rootstocks

Abstract

The seedless table grape 'BRS Melodia' stands out for its pink color and the special flavor of red berries, which make for commercial classification as gourmet type grapes. Cultivation of this new table grape cultivar is expanding in the São Francisco Valley, in the Brazilian Northeast region. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the rootstock on vigor, on yield components, and on physicochemical characteristics of 'BRS Melodia' grapes grown under the semi-arid tropical conditions of the São Francisco Valley. The experiment was carried out under irrigated cultivation in a commercial area in the municipality of Casa Nova, Bahia, Brazil, from 2021 to 2023.Treatments consisted of the rootstocks 101-14 MgT, IAC 313, IAC 572, IAC 766, Paulsen 1103, Ramsey, SO4, and Teleki 5C in a randomized block experimental design with four replications. There was no effect of the rootstock on the following variables: branch and leaf fresh matter, sprouting percentage, total soluble solids content (SS), titratable acidity (TA), and SS/TA ratio. 'BRS Melodia' grapevines had high vigor regardless of the rootstock used. The Ramsey rootstock led to reduced bud fertility compared to IAC 572 and IAC 766. As the vines advanced in age, the rootstocks IAC 572 and IAC 766 provided the highest yields and number of clusters per vine. The physicochemical characteristics of the 'BRS Melodia' grapes meet the standards required for commercialization on all the rootstocks used.