VDG001

Grapevine

Variety Description

Variety used for comparison: 'Pixie'

Summary: The main colour of the woody shoot of 'VDG001' is medium brown whereas the woody shoot of 'Pixie' is light brown. The prostrate hairs on the tip of the young shoot of 'VDG001' are dense with a medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration while the prostrate hairs of 'Pixie' are very dense with an absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration. The prostrate hairs between the veins on the lower side of the young leaf blade of 'VDG001' are of sparse to medium density whereas the prostrate hairs of 'Pixie' are very dense. The upper side of the young leaf blade of 'VDG001' is lighter brown green than the leaf blade of 'Pixie'. The petiole of 'VDG0001' has a weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration whereas the petiole of 'Pixie' has no anthocyanin colouration. The mature leaf blade of 'VDG001' is circular in shape with three lobes whereas the leaf blade of 'Pixie' is pentagonal in shape with five lobes. The upper side of the mature leaf blade of 'VDG001' has weak blistering whereas the leaf blade of 'Pixie' has strong blistering. The erect hairs on the main veins on the lower side of the mature leaf blade are of medium density for 'VDG001' whereas they are absent or very sparse for 'Pixie'. The length of the peduncle of the primary bunch of berries is short for 'VDG001' whereas it is of medium length for 'Pixie'. The colour of the skin of the berry is light green for 'VDG001' whereas the skin of 'Pixie' is black. The berry of 'VDG001' is more difficult to detach from the pedicel and has softer flesh than the berry of 'Pixie'. The berry of 'VDG001' has no particular flavour whereas the berry of 'Pixie' has an herbaceous flavour.

Description:

YOUNG SHOOT TIP: closed, dense prostrate hairs, medium intensity of anthocyanin colouration of prostrate hairs
SHOOT TENDRIL: aborts when 4 to 5 mm long
SHOOT INTERNODE: green dorsal and ventral side
SHOOT NODE: green dorsal and ventral side
WOODY SHOOT: medium brown (RHS 175C)

FLOWER: fully developed stamens and fully developed gynoecium

YOUNG LEAF BLADE: upper side is brown green (RHS N137C), sparse to medium density of prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side
MATURE LEAF BLADE: very small to small, circular shape, weak blistering of upper side, three lobes, shallow to medium depth of upper lateral sinuses, arrangement of lobes of upper lateral sinuses is closed, arrangement of lobes of petiole sinus is slightly overlapped, proportion of main veins on upper side with anthocyanin colouration is absent or very low, sparse prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side, medium density of erect hairs on main veins on lower side, length of petiole is much shorter than length of middle vein
TEETH ALONG MARGIN OF MATURE LEAF BLADE: short to medium length, medium length in relation to width, shape is mixture of both sides straight and both sides convex

BERRY BUNCH: very small, dense, peduncle of primary bunch is short
BERRY: small, globose shape, difficult to detach from pedicel, no particular flavour, seed formation is complete
BERRY SKIN: light green (RHS 144B) with weak russeting, medium thickness
BERRY FLESH: soft or slightly firm, absent or very weak intensity of anthocyanin colouration

Origin & Breeding History: 'VDG001' (experimental designation 'PR.009') originated from a controlled hybridization between the dwarf variety 'Pixie', as the female parent, and the variety 'Riesling', as the male parent. The original cross was conducted at the Vineland Research and Innovations Centre in Vineland Station, Ontario on October 20, 2010. 'VDG001' was selected on May 7, 2012 for its dwarfism, true hybridity, and attractive ornamental display.

Tests & Trials: The comparative trial of 'VDG001' was conducted in a greenhouse during 2013 at the Vineland Research and Innovations Centre in Vineland Station, Ontario. There were 10 plants each of the candidate and reference variety grown on their own roots. Each plant was obtained from single node soft stem cuttings taken in 2012, rooted and planted into black, plastic, 25 cm diameter pots. This dwarf grape variety has indeterminant growth when grown under greenhouse conditions, therefore, seasonal growth characteristics were not assessed. All colour determinations were made using the 2007 Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Comparison tables for 'VDG001' with reference variety 'Pixie'

Colour of young leaf blade (RHS)

Colour of skin of berry (RHS)

Colour of woody shoot (RHS)

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Grapevine: 'VDG001' (left) with reference variety 'Pixie' (right)

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Grapevine: 'VDG001' (left) with reference variety 'Pixie' (right)

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Grapevine: 'VDG001' (right) with reference variety 'Pixie' (left)