EVALUATION OF LOCAL AND EXOTIC GRAPES GERMPLASM AT MINGORA, SWAT

An evaluation study was conducted on sixteen grape varieties at Agricultural Research Station (North) Mingora, Swat, Pakistan during the year 2005-06. The results indicated that all study the parameters were significantly different among the varieties except days to fruit setting. Of the tested varieties var. Exotic showed the maximum bunch weight (602g), followed by Cardinal (546.30g), while var. Emerald showed the minimum bunch weight (207.30g). Maximum yield per plant was recorded for var. Exotic (21.67kg/plant^-1) and minimum (7.67kg plant^-1) in Fantasy Seedless. Maximum bunch volume was recorded for var. Cardinal (261.00 cm^3) and lowest in Loose perlette (83.33cm^3). Varieties Exotic and Cardinal had the maximum number of berries/bunch (301 and 300 berries per bunch, respectively) while minimum number of berries per bunch (172) was recorded in Fantasy seedless. Based on berry yield and quality parameters, varieties Cardinal, Exotic, Flam Seedless, Gold, Loose Perlette and King Ruby showed superior performance and are recommended for further investigations in the area