Biotech Updates

Grapevine Breeding in Australia

April 20, 2007

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) continues to breed improved grapevine varieties that will be a part of one’s dining experience, gourmet or not. CSIRO has developed varieties such as Tarrango and Tyrian for the wine industry, and has selected clones and varieties such as rain-tolerant currant Carina and rain-tolerant sultana type, Sunmuscat for the dried-grape industry. The table grape breeding program has already released seedless black grape and early ripening seeded grape varieties. The rootstock program, on the other hand, is continuing with an emphasis on tolerance of Phylloxera and nematodes, salt and drought tolerance, stock-scion compatibility and water use efficiency.

Read the article at http://www.csiro.au/science/psjb.html.