North Dakota State University Grape Germplasm Enhancement Project

1. North Dakota State University Grape Germplasm Enhancement Project Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, John Stenger,and Tom Plocher, Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050 Introduction Tourism and agriculture have consistently been the top industries contributing to North Dakota’s economy. With the establishment of the first licensed winery in North Dakota on April 17, 2002 after state legislation finally allowed commercial winery licenses, viticulture and the value-added industry of winemaking became agro-tourism enterprises with great growth potential. Unfortunately, one of the greatest obstacles to viticulture growth in North Dakota is the lack of viable grapevine cultivars consistently producing commercially acceptable wine (Fig 1). In 2009, the state Legislature established the North Dakota Grape and Wine Program Committee to oversee the disposition of funds for grape and wine research, education, and marketing. Their first research priority was the development of new cold-hardy winegrape cultivars suitable for commercial production in North Dakota and similar environments in other states. Figure 4. Example of fruit enhancement potential. Figure 2. Daily minimum air temperature at Williston, ND since January 1, 2000. Figure 1. Overview of grape cultivars suitable for various locations. Figure 5. Grape germplasm enhancement strategy. • Materials and Methods • North Dakota presents numerous challenges to viticulture including extremely cold winter temperatures (Fig 2.) , high pH soils, and a short growing season (Fig. 3). Recent successes by public and private programs in other states using wild grape (Vitis riparia) that is native to North Dakota, suggests that progress could be made fairly quickly (Fig 4). Vitis riparia biotypes from North Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and Manitoba are being characterized for fruit size and quality (flavor, acidity, and polyphenol profile). These superior native far northern Vitis riparia are being used as a source of winter hardiness and early ripening. In addition, early ripening Vitis vinifera are being used as a source of quality and early ripening and hardy adaptive types are being used as a source of hardiness and quality (Fig 5). Results and Discussion . • This project is utilizing conventional outdoor hybridization as well as a greenhouse culture and hybridization, adapted from Tyler Kaban’s accelerated grape breeding procedures (University Saskatchewan), so year-round crossing can occur. Over 50 grape cultivars and 30 North Dakota and Montana V. riparia selections are being maintained in greenhouse culture for this purpose. It is anticipated that these procedures will increase seedling numbers and enable fruit quality assessment earlier by shortening the period from cross initiation to micro-vinification. • In spring of 2012, 29 crosses were performed with vines in the greenhouse. Also, 334 field crosses were done during the recent outdoor pollination season. Figure 3. Normal growing degree days (30 year average) for North Dakota utilizing base 10 ◦C. Acknowledgement This material is based upon work supported by the North Dakota Grape and Wine Program Committee. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of NDGWPC.