Adoption of table grape cultivars: An attribute preference study on Chinese grape growers

- Chinese growers showed a strong willingness to adopt new table grape cultivars.
- High yield, disease resistance and berry sugar content were the top criteria.
- Compact cluster, and large, dark red berries were preferred extrinsic attributes.
- Seedlessness was a low-weighted attribute for respondents.
- Our results are useful for table grape breeders, nurseries and consultants.

Cultivars are a main agricultural material in the table grape production chain. China has the largest number of table grape growers in the world, but their cultivar-adoption preferences are largely unknown. We aimed to fill this gap. A questionnaire study, in-depth interview and photograph test were carried out with 1045 table grape growers in the main growing regions of China, and results were validated by table grape cultivar research publications. Results revealed good yield, high disease resistance, high berry sugar content (19-20°Brix), large berry size, compact cluster and strong transport/storage potential as the top criteria in Chinese grape growers' cultivar adoption. Deep red to dark purple colour was preferred to light-colour selections; round to oval shape and strong Muscat flavour were welcomed. Seedlessness was a low-weighted attribute. Chinese grape growers are highly willing to adopt new table grape cultivars. In addition to featured consumption attributes, they emphasize production attributes and risk-control management in their adoption decision-making. Our results provide first information on table grape cultivar adoption in China. The outlined multi-trait adoption indexes could be useful to international and domestic table grape breeders and nurseries at both strategic and tactical levels.