Grapevine breeding: Strategies for both temperate and tropical areas

摘要

Grapevines are one of the oldest and most widely grown woody perennial fruit crops. Their cultivation begun at least 5000 years ago in Asia Minor and has been widely recorded in the monuments of ancient Egypt. Currently about 10 mha are grown mainly in countries with temperate climates but increasingly they are cultivated in tropical regions. Most cultivated grapes are varieties of the one species Vitis vinifera which has been spread across virtually all continents by the movements of explorers and immigrants. In addition there is significant cultivation of both V. labrusca and V. amurensis and of hybrids between these species and V. vinifera.