Viticultural characteristics of Viticultural characteristics of Syrah clones in the Syrah clones in the San Joaquin ValleySan Joaquin Valley

Matthew FidelibusMatthew FidelibusDepartment of Viticulture and EnologyDepartment of Viticulture and Enology

University of California, DavisUniversity of California, Davis

Genetic basis for clonal diversityGenetic basis for clonal diversity

• Clonal cClonal cultivars: all asexually propagated ultivars: all asexually propagated individuals from a single mother vineindividuals from a single mother vineAccumulation of somatic mutationsAccumulation of somatic mutations

• Polyclonal Polyclonal cultivars: several related cultivars: several related mother vines mother vines by definition genetically diverseby definition genetically diverse

Which clone to choose and why?Which clone to choose and why?

• Foundation Plant Services imports new Foundation Plant Services imports new varieties & clones but doesn’t evaluate varieties & clones but doesn’t evaluate their performance their performance

• Some FPS clones originated as different Some FPS clones originated as different cuttings from the same vine and perform cuttings from the same vine and perform identically (e.g. Barbera 3 & 5)identically (e.g. Barbera 3 & 5)

• 40 Cabernet Sauvignons, 40 Cabernet Sauvignons, 62 Chardonnays, 90 Pinot noirs, 15 62 Chardonnays, 90 Pinot noirs, 15 SyrahsSyrahs

UC research programsUC research programs

• No continuous formal evaluation programsNo continuous formal evaluation programs

• Olmo (V&E) & Goheen (FPS) Chardonnay Olmo (V&E) & Goheen (FPS) Chardonnay program (1950s &1960s): increased yields program (1950s &1960s): increased yields from 0.5 to five tons per acrefrom 0.5 to five tons per acre

• Bettiga, Christensen, Verdegaal, Wolpert, Bettiga, Christensen, Verdegaal, Wolpert, and others have evaluated selections of and others have evaluated selections of certain varieties in recent yearscertain varieties in recent years

Considerations in choosing a cloneConsiderations in choosing a clone

• Distinct beneficial characteristicsDistinct beneficial characteristics• Yield, yield components, & vine vigor commonly Yield, yield components, & vine vigor commonly

differ among clonesdiffer among clones• ““Favorable genotype x environment Favorable genotype x environment

interactions…have to be found by experience” interactions…have to be found by experience” Mullins, 1989Mullins, 1989

• ““France may be the worst place to make France may be the worst place to make selections for California” Walkerselections for California” Walker

• Wine quality obviously important, but data are Wine quality obviously important, but data are very limitedvery limited

“…“…The agency [TTB] is also requesting comment on The agency [TTB] is also requesting comment on the use and meaning of a variety of other terms that the use and meaning of a variety of other terms that lack regulatory definition, such as “Old Vine,” lack regulatory definition, such as “Old Vine,” ““Old Clone”Old Clone” and “Select Harvest.”” and “Select Harvest.””

--The Crush Newsletter 37:10, 2010--The Crush Newsletter 37:10, 2010

The term ‘clone’ may also The term ‘clone’ may also have marketing valuehave marketing value

San Joaquin Valley perspectiveSan Joaquin Valley perspective

• Growers must produce high volume of low Growers must produce high volume of low cost grapescost grapes

• Increasing interest in improving fruit & Increasing interest in improving fruit & wine qualitywine quality

• Yield, yield components, susceptibility to Yield, yield components, susceptibility to rot, & vine vigor are key variablesrot, & vine vigor are key variables

Experimental detailsExperimental details

• 12 individual vines of ten different 12 individual vines of ten different selections planted in a randomized selections planted in a randomized complete block designcomplete block design

• Trained to bilateral cordons with 9 two-bud Trained to bilateral cordons with 9 two-bud spurs per meter cordonspurs per meter cordon

• Vertical two-wire trellis with California Vertical two-wire trellis with California sprawl canopy sprawl canopy

Experimental detailsExperimental details

• Day of budbreak, veraison, and harvest Day of budbreak, veraison, and harvest recorded each yearrecorded each year

• Fruit from all clones harvested at once Fruit from all clones harvested at once (except in 2010)(except in 2010)

• Berries per cluster, berry weight, cluster Berries per cluster, berry weight, cluster weight, soluble solids, acidity, yield, weight, soluble solids, acidity, yield, pruning weights, sour rot incidencepruning weights, sour rot incidence

Syrah clones evaluatedSyrah clones evaluated

FPS No.FPS No. SourceSource Shiraz 01Shiraz 01 Australia, 1970, syn=SyrahAustralia, 1970, syn=Syrah

Shiraz 02Shiraz 02 Australia, 1970, syn=SyrahAustralia, 1970, syn=Syrah

Shiraz 03Shiraz 03 Australia, 1970, syn=SyrahAustralia, 1970, syn=Syrah

Shiraz 07Shiraz 07 Australia, 1970, syn+SyrahAustralia, 1970, syn+Syrah

Syrah 03Syrah 03

Syrah 174Syrah 174 France, 174France, 174

Syrah ENTAV-INRA® Syrah ENTAV-INRA® 9999

ENTAV, FranceENTAV, France

Syrah ENTAV-INRA® Syrah ENTAV-INRA® 100100

ENTAV, FranceENTAV, France

Syrah ENTAV-INRA® Syrah ENTAV-INRA® 300300

ENTAV, FranceENTAV, France

Syrah ENTAV-INRA® Syrah ENTAV-INRA® 525525 ENTAV, FranceENTAV, France

Average Phenology DataAverage Phenology Data

• Bud break: March 21-23Bud break: March 21-23

• Bloom: May 9-11Bloom: May 9-11

• Veraison: July 9-10Veraison: July 9-10

• Harvest: September 9Harvest: September 9

• Australian (Shiraz) selections usually Australian (Shiraz) selections usually bloomed first, otherwise few differences bloomed first, otherwise few differences among selectionsamong selections

Yield componentsYield components

SelectionSelection Berries/clusterBerries/cluster Berry wtBerry wt Clusters/vineClusters/vine Cluster wtCluster wt

0303 135 a135 a 1.62 c1.62 c 81 a81 a 0.22 a0.22 a

9999 126 bc126 bc 1.78 a1.78 a 72 c72 c 0.22 a0.22 a

100100 132 ab132 ab 1.72 b1.72 b 76 bc76 bc 0.22 a0.22 a

174174 122 c122 c 1.58 cd1.58 cd 72 c72 c 0.19 b0.19 b

300300 122 c122 c 1.59 cd1.59 cd 77 bc77 bc 0.19 b0.19 b

525525 133 ab133 ab 1.50 e1.50 e 75 bc75 bc 0.20 b0.20 b

Shiraz 01Shiraz 01 138 a138 a 1.45 f1.45 f 76 bc76 bc 0.20 b0.20 b

Shiraz 02Shiraz 02 126 bc126 bc 1.61 c1.61 c 78 ab78 ab 0.20 b0.20 b

Shiraz 03Shiraz 03 118 c118 c 1.60 cd1.60 cd 75 bc75 bc 0.19 b0.19 b

Shiraz 07Shiraz 07 122 c122 c 1.56 d1.56 d 73 bc73 bc 0.19 b0.19 b

Yield, rot susceptibilityYield, rot susceptibilitySelectionSelection Yield/vineYield/vine

(kg)(kg)

Sour rotSour rot

(% clusters with rot)(% clusters with rot)

0303 17.7 a17.7 a 12 bc12 bc

9999 16.3 ab16.3 ab 7 d7 d

100100 17.2 a17.2 a 9 cd9 cd

174174 14.1 cd14.1 cd 11 bc11 bc

300300 15.1 bcd15.1 bcd 12 bc12 bc

525525 14.9 bcd14.9 bcd 25 a25 a

Shiraz 01Shiraz 01 14.8 cd14.8 cd 3 e3 e

Shiraz 02Shiraz 02 15.6 bc15.6 bc 13 b13 b

Shiraz 03Shiraz 03 14.1 cd14.1 cd 2 e2 e

Shiraz 07Shiraz 07 14.0 d14.0 d 3 e3 e

Fruit characteristicsFruit characteristicsSelectionSelection Soluble solidsSoluble solids

(Brix)(Brix)

pHpH Titratable acidityTitratable acidity

(g/L)(g/L)

0303 24.1 de24.1 de 3.8 e3.8 e 4.75 a4.75 a

9999 24.6 c24.6 c 3.88 c3.88 c 4.61 b4.61 b

100100 24.4 cd24.4 cd 3.84 d3.84 d 4.67 ab4.67 ab

174174 23.9 e23.9 e 3.84 d3.84 d 4.73 ab4.73 ab

300300 24.0 de24.0 de 3.80 e3.80 e 4.74 ab4.74 ab

525525 24.2 cd24.2 cd 3.78 e3.78 e 4.67 ab4.67 ab

Shiraz 01Shiraz 01 27.8 a27.8 a 4.10 a4.10 a 4.39 c4.39 c

Shiraz 02Shiraz 02 24.4 cd24.4 cd 3.88 c3.88 c 4.64 ab4.64 ab

Shiraz 03Shiraz 03 26.1 b26.1 b 3.81 e3.81 e 4.63 ab4.63 ab

Shiraz 07Shiraz 07 26.0 b26.0 b 4.05 b4.05 b 4.73 ab4.73 ab

Vigor indicatorsVigor indicatorsSelectionSelection Pruning weightsPruning weights

(kg)(kg)

Yield:Pruning weight ratioYield:Pruning weight ratio

0303 2.62 de2.62 de 6.70 ab6.70 ab

9999 2.99 d2.99 d 5.34 c5.34 c

100100 2.42 ef2.42 ef 7.31 a7.31 a

174174 2.20 ef2.20 ef 6.13 bc6.13 bc

300300 2.15 f2.15 f 7.53 a7.53 a

525525 2.0 f2.0 f 7.68 a7.68 a

Shiraz 01Shiraz 01 4.0 c4.0 c 3.85 d3.85 d

Shiraz 02Shiraz 02 3.0 d3.0 d 5.26 c5.26 c

Shiraz 03Shiraz 03 5.3 b5.3 b 2.99 de2.99 de

Shiraz 07Shiraz 07 6.1 a6.1 a 2.72 e2.72 e

SummarySummary

• Shiraz selections 01, 03, and 07 are Shiraz selections 01, 03, and 07 are earlier ripening and more vigorous than earlier ripening and more vigorous than French selectionsFrench selections

• Shiraz clones had higher soluble solids Shiraz clones had higher soluble solids and pH, smaller berries, smaller clusters, and pH, smaller berries, smaller clusters, lower yields, and less sour rot than the lower yields, and less sour rot than the French selections.French selections.

Further readingFurther reading

• Reprints available for previous clonal Reprints available for previous clonal evaluations (Barbera, Cabernet evaluations (Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel)Zinfandel)

• Wine Grape Varieties in California (book)Wine Grape Varieties in California (book)

• National Grape Registry Website:National Grape Registry Website:

http://ngr.ucdavis.edu/index.cfmhttp://ngr.ucdavis.edu/index.cfm

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

• Funding from American Vineyard Foundation Funding from American Vineyard Foundation and Viticulture Consortium Westand Viticulture Consortium West

• L. Peter Christensen, Chik Brenneman, Linda L. Peter Christensen, Chik Brenneman, Linda Bisson, Kimberley Cathline, Deborah Golino, Bisson, Kimberley Cathline, Deborah Golino, Nancy Sweet, Jorge Aguilar Osorio, Don Nancy Sweet, Jorge Aguilar Osorio, Don Katayama, Karin Kawagoe, and many others.Katayama, Karin Kawagoe, and many others.