The Muscadine Grape, Vitis rotundifolia, also known as Bullace, is a fruit bearing vine (grapevine), indigenous to south-eastern United States. The vine is large, vigorous and it climbs and hangs with spiralled tendrils. The Muscadine Grapes grow in just about all forests, parks, roadsides, and in fact anywhere there are trees or bushes to wrap tightly around in its native south-eastern Unite States region.

Vitis rotundifolia old vines can reach 10cm or more in diameter and grow more than 30 meters into the tops of tall trees if given the chance. Leaves are deciduous, 7-12cm, shiny, dark green above and green-yellow below, slightly lobed and triangular with coarsely toothed edges and a point. Flowers are light-green, little and dioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants, born in small bundles.

Muscadine Grape Fruit and Uses

The Muscadine Grapeberries range from bronze to dark purple to black when mature but many wild varieties stay green through maturity. They have a somewhat tough skin but are not only consumed fresh, additionally, used in making jelly, juice, and wine. Muscadine grapes have been used for making commercial fine wines and ports going back to the 15th Century.

The fruit is also rich source of poly phenols, primarily found in the skin, known for their health benefits. Poly phenols have been studied for their possible health benefits which include preliminary evidence for effects against cancer mechanisms.

Muscadine Grape Propagation Methods

Mostly, Vitis rotundifolia is not cross-compatible with other Vitis species and most crossbreed between the subgenera are sterile. A few, however, are at least moderately fertile, and have been used in breeding.

Furthermore, unlike most cultivated grapevines, the majority of Muscadine Grape cultivars are female, needing a pollenizer to set fruit. Fruit grows in small clumps and not in the large bunches distinctive of other kinds of grapes.

Vitis rotundifolia is resistant to pests and diseases, including Pierce’s disease, which can destruct other grape species. It is also one of the grape species most resistant to Phylloxera, an insect that can kill the roots of grapevines. Vitis rotundifolia is a member of the Vitaceae family the genus Vitis.

Plant propagation is by one or two-year-old root taken cuttings in late winter or spring and by layering. Grown from seed cannot be expected to come true to parent. The vine grows best with a good deal of organic mulch in productive sandy loam and alluvial soils.

Muscadine Grape is well adapted to warm and humid climate; it needs fewer chilling hours than better known varieties and they prosper on summer heat. The plant should not be grown in areas where temperatures often go below -12°C. They produce larger and better fruit when grown in full sun but will tolerate some shade.

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