New grape varieties bred from Shine Muscat grown in Australia

When we talk about grape varieties developed in Japan, the first that springs to mind is often Shine Muscat, a crisp, fragrant seedless green grape cultivar with a plump pulp and very high sweetness. Japan’s Okayama Prefecture is commonly regarded as the hometown of Shine Muscat grapes, where the long hours of sunshine translate to a high sugar level. Shine Muscat grapes produced in this prefecture have been officially granted the status of a geographical indication fruit in Japan and are considered by many to be the best nationwide. In recent years, Shine Muscat grapes have also been introduced into other countries, including China. However, owing to differences in climatic and geographical conditions, alongside gaps in planting techniques and crop management, the quality of China-grown Shine Muscat grapes can vary substantially. Recently, seven new grape varieties bearing Shine Muscat genes have been cultivated in Australia and these are expected to come into commercial ...