Hybridization of seedless grapes

Complete seedlessness was not achieved in any seedless x seedless families produced. This clearly shows the seedless trait is not controlled by a single recessive gene. The percentage of seedlessness obtained was not the same for all families. This indicates the importance of parental combinations and the need for progeny testing to increase the efficiency of producing seedless offspring. All seedless genotypes used except Thompson Seedless have a seeded female parent, indicating heterogenity for seeds/aborted seeds. It will be interesting now to use seedlings from the seedless x seedless families to see if 100 % seedless offspring can be obtained. Three seedless x seedless families compared to their complementary families from seeded x seedless were significantly different for percent seedless. In ovulo embryo rescue of seedless x seedless hybrids is also advantageous as it allows direct hybridization without seeded genotypes. This eliminates the introduction of genes from seeded genotypes and one generation - a savings of 5 years. The ability to achieve complimentary crosses between seedless genotypes directly can be achieved.