Hy. Wetzstein et Sc. Myers, VEGETATIVE AND YIELD COMPONENT CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROPROPAGATED MUSCADINE GRAPE (VITIS-ROTUNDIFOLIA MICHX), Journal of Horticultural Science, 69(4), 1994, pp. 747-753
Evaluations were made of the field performance of micropropagated (tis
sue cultured axillary buds) versus conventionally rooted softwood cutt
ings of muscadine grape, Vitis rotundifolia Michx. Trunk cross-section
al area did not differ between treatments during three years of field
evaluation following planting. There were no differences in leaf area
and dry weight or shoot number in the two propagation types; leaf morp
hology was normal with no apparent juvenile characteristics. Yield com
ponents including flower number per shoot and inflorescence, fruit num
ber, total fruit weight and yield efficiency were greater in microprop
agated plants during the second year, the first year of cropping, diff
erences diminished and yield components were not different in year thr
ee. Performance of tissue cultured plants was therefore as good as, or
surpassed, conventionally propagated plants during early vine establi
shment.