Morphological, Yield and Quality Assessment of Grape Germplasm (Vitis vinifera L.) Grown under Pune Condition

Abstract

The present study was conducted during growing season October, 2024 to March, 2025 at ICAR-National Research Centre for Grapes, Pune, highlighting the considerable diversity for morphological, yield and quality characters among different colour-seeded grape germplasms grown. Most accessions exhibited medium to late bud brust; a trait more strongly modulated by post-pruning temperature than genetics. Shoot tips were predominantly half-open and young leaves exhibited yellow bronzed spotting, while mature leaves were large and wedge-shaped with five lobes, open petiole sinuses, variable prostrate hair densities and an absence of erect hairs. Bunch morphology was characterized by medium compactness with conical to cylindrical shapes, uniform black-skinned berries and flavour profiles ranging from neutral to muscat and foxy. Quantitative analyses revealed significant variation such as average bunch weight ranged from 100.5 g (Madhu Angoor) to 473.0 g (Katta), fifty-berry weight from 86.0 g (E-5-12) to 295.0 g (Ribier), and yield vine^-1 from 1.41 kg (Madhu Angoor) to 21.52 kg (Gulabi). Total soluble solids spanned 11.5°Brix to 19.0°Brix and acidity ranged from 0.40% to 0.70%. Correlation analysis highlighted positive associations between bunch weight, length (r=0.631) and negative relationships with TSS (r=–0.458) and compactness (r=–0.583). Principal component analysis extracted twelve components, with the first three explaining 73.58% of total variance PC1 captured maturity and size dimensions, PC2 emphasized berry size and compactness and PC3 reflected productivity. These findings underscored the value of morphological and pomological markers for germplasm discrimination and inform targeted parent selection in grape breeding programs aimed at enhancing yield and fruit quality.