Effect of Grapevine Varietal Differences on Bud Fertility, Yield and Fruit Quality under Arid Environments and Domestic Wastewater Irrigation

This study was carried out during the years 2008 and 2009 at the Research and Agricultural Experimental Station at Dirab, King Saud University, Riyadh in order to examine the differences in grape but fertility, production and fruit quality between newly planted and local grapevine cultivars grown under arid environments and irrigated with domestic wastewater. The local cultivars were; Kamaly, Soltany, Taify, White Shatta, Des El-Anz and Halawany whereas, the newly planted cultivars were; Red Glop, Perlette, Flame Seedless, Crimson, Superior, Thompson Seedless and King Ruby. Data indicated that Flame Seedless, King Ruby, Kamaly, Soltany, White Shatta and Halawany cultivars had a significantly higher bud fertility percent than all other cultivars. Kamaly had a significantly higher bud fertility coefficient percent than King Ruby, Des El-Anz, Taiefy, White Shatta and Halawany. In general, both Kamaly and Soltany cultivars had similar and a significantly higher yield than the other cultivars, whereas, Kamaly and King Ruby had similar and a significantly heavier cluster than the other cultivars. The lowest cluster length and width was found in Thompson Seedless and Flame Seedless cultivars. Halawany, Perlette, Kamaly and Flame Seedless, had similar and a significantly higher berry firmness than King Ruby, Des El-Anz and Taief. Soltany and Kamaly had similar and a significantly higher berry length than Thompson Seedless and Flame Seedless. Berry width was similar in Thompson Seedless and Flame Seedless and lower than Red Glop, Superior, Halawany, Soltany, Halawany and White Shatta. Flame Seedless, Des El-Anz, King Ruby and Crimson had similar and a significantly higher berry TSS and TSS / acidity ratio than all other studied cultivars. Berry moisture content of Perlette and Flame Seedless was similar and higher than Halawany, Superior, Des El-Anz, Taiefy, Kamaly and King Ruby. Berry dry matter percent of King Ruby and Kamaly was similar and higher than most studied cultivars.