The results of grapevine breeding in the Republic of Moldova – in context of climatic and socio-economic challenges

Research and Practical Institute for Horticulture and Food Technologies, 59, Vieru str., MD-2070, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The results achieved in Republic of Moldova in using the potential of grapevine Gene pool over the past 40 years are significant: new varieties for diverse utilisation, designed for complex biological resistance to stress factors, for reduced pressing on the environment and for excellent capabilities for ecological agriculture. Breeding programs resulted in modernization of assortment – were created more than 80 new varieties for table and wine grapes, most of them with advanced biological resistance, and 32 varieties were included in actual assortment and other are in the process of testing. An important feature of this assortment is presence of seedless varieties, well adapted to our geographical area. According to their characteristics (resistance, quality, productivity), created seedless varieties are not only a pioneering for the assortment of the Republic of Moldova, but for the entire Euro-Asian region. New seedless varieties and perspective elites manifest an increased percentage of buds started in vegetation after the wintering. High fertility, medium to large and very large grapes, accumulation of sugars and total acidity in must favourably for consumption of fresh grapes or for technological processing, suitability for long-term storage and transportability for some of them, denote their high productive and qualitative potential.