Hybrids resistant to mildew?

[danpug]

In this months country smallholding magazine theres an article on english vineyards. One of the owners of a vineyard said that hybrid vines are resisitant to mildew? Is this correct?

[lockwood1956]

Some grape varietals are more resistant than others.


I think that hybrids could be more resistant, thats one of the reasons probably why they were bred, so you would need to research the particular hybrid to be sure.

but if you have issues with Mildew you would need to select varietals that are more resistant, or make your spray program take account of the fact that you have mildew issues.


do you have mildew issues currently?

(one of the reasons vineyards sometimes have roses planted at the end of each row is that roses get mildew probs before grapevines, so they can be an early indicator of an impending problem....)

regaerds
bob

[danpug]

I don't actually have any vines, bar the one in the garden that was already here when we moved in. It's something i'll be looking to get involved in in the near future though. I'm just curious.

[lockwood1956]

Have a look at this site

https://www.thevinehouse.co.uk

it will give you an idea of what is being planted in the UK currently

[lockwood1956]

This site will yield more info on varietals and disease resistance etc

http://www.vivc.bafz.de/index.php

[danpug]

Thanks, i'll have a good look.

[NorthernWiner]

One of the owners of a vineyard said that hybrid vines are resisitant to mildew? Is this correct?

I don't think that's a universal truth. It depends on the hybrid and its lineage.

I grow two hybrids that have mixed v. riparia (American wild river grape) and v. vinifera ancestry. River grapes are very mildew and phyloxera resistant, while most European grapes are not. Of course, European grapes tend to be much better suited for wine.

One of my hybrids, a black grape called Marquette, has Pinot Noir parentage. Unlike Pinot, Marquette vines are hardy enough to survive extremely cold winters. However, I've found them to be susceptible to almost everything that infects European vines: mildew, phyloxera, anthracnose, black rot, botrytis, etc. Keeping these vines healthy means a lot of spraying.

The other hybrid I grow, Frontenac, is a cross between Landot Noir, a French-American hybrid, and American riparia. This particular grape laughs at cold, insects, disease, and fungus. I normally spray it with lime-sulphur during the spring when it's dormant, and then a general purpose fungicide twice a year. Other than that, I don't have to do a thing to it. The grapes are gorgeous:

[danpug]

I see what you mean. The grower in the article has stocked most of his vineyard with Solaris and Phoenix. He said he's never used mildew spray on any of his vines bar a single row of Bacchus.