Evaluation of Major Characteristics of Irrigated Grape Cultivars of Kurdistan Province

The local grape cultivars of Kurdistan province of Iran were studied during years 1993 to 1995 and 1997 to 2001. In different stages of plant growth such as bud break, fruit maturity, fruit harvesting and rest of grapevines, using IBPGR (International Board for Plant Genetic Resources) descriptor, about 100 characters on different parts of plant were recorded. As a result, 59 cultivars were identified, 42 are grown in irrigated and the rest in non-irrigated conditions. All irrigated grapes grown in Kurdistsn were seeded grape except Askari cv. Color of berries were white (23 cvs.), black (16 cvs.) and red (3 cvs.). Sex of flower in all cultivars was hermaphrodite except in Sarchal, Farkhi Siah, Shershereh and Nafti Bijar cvs. Those flowers were female with descending stamens. Minimum leaf area (55 cm 2 ) and maximum leaf area (195cm 2 ) were measured in Dallah Ozoom and Shellah cvs., respectively. Total soluble solides (TSS) varied from 15.5% in Dallah Ozoom cv. to 26.0% in Mirzaei cv. Cultivar Askari due to seedlessing, AghOzoom, Khalili, Farkhi, Shershereh, Keshmeshi Ghermez, Rishbaba. Mollaei and Mirzaei, due to cold tolerance, high TSS, and attractive color are recommended as table grapes and Vaisgholi, Kurdkoosh Sefid, Kurdkoosh Ghermez and Gaznaei due to high yielding large and juicy berries, are introduced as juicy grapes. Similarity dendrogram resulted in clustering of grape cultivars into 15 groups. According to the dendrogram, maximum and minimum similarity levels were belonged to Sarchal with Mamki and Agh Ozoom with Charmov Zooras, respectively. Farkhi is major grape cultivar grown in cold regions of Kurdistan and is a cold tolerant grape. For this reason, this cultivar is recommended not only for grown in cold regions of Kurdistan but also in other cold regions of Iran. All of these cultivars (table and juicy grapes) are introduced as superior cultivars for using in grape breeding programs and development of irrigated vineyards.