COMPARISON OF METHODS USED FOR DETERMINING THE STENOSPERMIC TRAIT IN VITIS-VINIFERA L

Grape samples from nine progeny populations totaling 580 individual se edlings were evaluated organoleptically for the stenospermic character by four independent judges. These subjective evaluations were correla ted to a standard objective procedure for evaluating stenospermy, as w ell as other variables associated with the sinker content of each samp le. Correlations were diverse between organoleptic evaluations and cal culated variables. Organoleptic evaluations more closely agreed with t he objective stenospermic evaluation for seeded grapes. Highest correl ations were realized between organoleptic evaluation and relative seed mass. These results indicate that organoleptic evaluations should not be used in genetic studies to discern between seeded and stenospermic accessions.