Good Fruit Grower

April 15

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Grapes Photo by jason moore, cornell center for technology enterPrise and commercialization Cornell releases wine grape varieties A new white variety is cold tolerant; a new red variety is disease resistant. by Melissa Hansen C ornell University has released two new wine grape varieties—a cold-hardy aromatic white variety and a red variety that is highly resistant to fungal diseases. The two releases offer new characteristics not previously available to growers and wineries, particularly producers in New York's Finger Lakes region, says Bruce Reisch, Cornell grape breeder. Since Reisch joined Cornell in 1980, nearly a dozen grape varieties have been released. The breeding program is focused on developing wine varieties and has strong emphasis on selecting quality varieties that are disease resistant and cold tolerant. The new white variety Aromella is a progeny of Traminette and Ravat 34 and has been in testing since 1983. The variety produces aromatic white wines that range from floral to Muscat in flavor. Aromella is very winter hardy. Tests showed 50 percent bud kill at around -16°F. No trunk damage has been observed, and vines remained productive even after winter lows of -15° to -16°F. Aromella has moderate resistance to downy and powdery mildews. Clusters are long and loose, and berries ripen midseason. Own-rooted vines are large with a semitrailing growth habit. Fruit yield averaged around 7.5 tons per acre in small-scale trials. Aromella is very cold hardy, with no trunk damage seen at -16°F. COLD AIR DRAIN® Frost Protection COST EFFECTIVE! Most systems have a 100% payback in the first year. Minimal site prep. Fuel efficient. No maintenance contracts. POWERFUL! State-of-the-art propeller sends cold air up approximately 300 ft. VERSATILE! Size & power options available to meet your needs. Targeted protection for frost pockets, swales, slopes, valleys, etc. Use alone or with wind machines, water, or heaters. FREE COMPUTERIZED FROST ANALYSIS & PRICE QUOTE! SHuR FARMS® Frost Protection 1890 N. 8th Street, Colton, CA 92324 877.842.9688 or 909.825.2035 info@shurfarms.com www.shurfarms.com 38 April 15, 2013 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com

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