Capespan’s work to introduce new table grape varieties to fill gaps it has identified in the season has “paid off handsomely”, according to the company’s latest newsletter.
Janneman van Zyl, Capespan’s technical manager, deciduous, and consultant Piet Geldenhuys have been researching the right varieties to replace mid-season white variety Thompson Seedless, as well as red cultivars to accompany early-season Flame Seedless, and complement mid-season Ralli Seedless. They have also been looking at red alternatives for the Upington area, which struggles with Crimson Seedless, a choice of black mid-season strains to supplement the Autumn Royal offer, and a few black late-season cultivars.
So far, says van Zyl, thanks to work with International Fruit Genetics and Sun World, Sweet Sunshine has been earmarked as a replacement for Thompson, Sweet Surrender as an early black variety with potential, Sweet Celebration as a replacement for mid-season Sunred Seedless, and Scarlotta Seedless is being looked at as a variety to mature after Autumn Royal.
South Africa and Australia have also been awarded the rights by the US Department of Agriculture to propagate and plant a number of seedless cultivars - early-red Sweet Scarlet, mid-season white Princess Seedless, mid-season black Summer Royal and mid-season dark red Scarlet Royal - which he sees as a big breakthrough. “These varieties are available to Capespan and the SA table grape industry,” said van Zyl. “From next year, [Sweet Scarlet and Scarlet Royal] will be propagated by the SA Plant Improvement Organisation, while the rest will be propagated in 2010.”
