First Harvest of Spil Black Grapes Completed

First harvest of season completed for Spil Karası grapes in Manisa after 3 years of R&D work The first harvest of the season in the greenhouse for Spil Karası, an early-ripening grape variety developed entirely by Turkish engineers and subject to 3 years of R&D work, was carried out at Manisa Viticulture Research Institute. The new variety, expected to be presented to growers by year-end, stands out not only for its early-ripening and twice-yearly harvest characteristics, but also for water and fertilizer savings.   Manisa Viticulture Research Institute developed the Spil Karası grape variety, with the name determined by growers, and was also grown soillessly in a greenhouse environment. In the research project for soilless grape cultivation in the greenhouse, harvest was carried out this year as well. With Spil Karası, an early-ripening variety, and Trakya İlkeren grape variety grown in a soilless environment in the greenhouse, two harvests per year can be obtained from the same plant. The aim is to supply grapes to the market with harvests carried out in June and November, months when grapes are not available in the market. The first grape harvest of the season was carried out by Manisa Governor Yaşar Karadeniz, Manisa Agriculture and Forestry Provincial Director Metin Öztürk, and Manisa Viticulture Research Institute Director Akay Ünal.

Waiting in line for production

Manisa Viticulture Research Institute Director Akay Ünal, providing explanations about the Spil Karası project in the greenhouse where production has been carried out for 3 years within a fully automated closed-system greenhouse, within the framework of the project being conducted under the Institute's directorate, stated: "We had certain objectives when we started this project. One of them was to be able to supply the market with products in early and late periods when products are not available in the market. We carry out our harvest around mid-June. This provides approximately 1 to 1.5 months of early ripening compared to open-field production. Another feature of this work is that we can obtain a second harvest and yield from the same plant within one year. After the first harvest, we prune our plant severely, revive it, and force it into a second yield. The initial yield values we obtain roughly correspond one-to-one with open-field production. We can obtain the same value at the first harvest. At the second harvest, while it varies depending on the variety, we can obtain approximately half or two-thirds of the product, which translates to profit for us and our growers. Both during periods when grapes are not available in the market, our growers will sell this product at higher prices and will obtain more income per unit area. We have completed the third year of our project and this is the final year. After this, we will be able to provide our growers with a clear formula. We will be able to clearly indicate which varieties should be used, how cultivation should be conducted, and the approximate economic value they can obtain when they enter this system through economic analyses. Currently, we have several growers who want to invest. There are some technical details and differences compared to open-field cultivation, which have been determined by us. By the end of this year, we will be in a position to provide our growers with a clear formula," he said.

The greenhouse where the product is grown provides both water and fertilizer savings

Ünal, providing information about the greenhouse where Spil Karası is grown, stated: "The characteristic of the greenhouse we are currently in is that we have the opportunity to apply this greenhouse production model on lands that are particularly unsuitable for agriculture due to poor soil structure or disadvantageous lands such as those with chalk or salt content. Here we are not dependent on soil. Another advantage is that it provides significant savings in waste management. We drain the water and fertilizer mixture we apply to the plant through drainage channels, collecting it again. By completing the missing nutrients in these, disinfecting, and reapplying the same water mixture to the plant, we achieve significant savings in water and fertilizer," he said.

Obtaining product twice a year provides additional value

Manisa Agriculture and Forestry Provincial Director Metin Öztürk, drawing attention to the fact that the Spil Karası developed by Manisa Viticulture Research Institute has been harvested in greenhouse conditions for 3 years and is now a grape variety that is subject to commerce, noted that Manisa is the capital of grapes, stating: "Particularly in seedless dried grapes, we are talking about a city that has the largest production areas in Turkey, producing 85-90% and exporting 90% of them. Manisa is a city that produces 20% of all Turkey's grape production. Manisa Viticulture Institute also conducts many R&D studies on new varieties. We are at the harvest of one of them. There is Spil Karası and Trakya İlkeren. They are currently in a mature state. They are ready to reach tables around mid-June. The most important advantage is actually early ripening. When you can supply grapes to the market at times when grapes are not available in the market, that is a time when you earn the most income from that product. Therefore, early ripening will be provided. Work on obtaining product twice a year continues. Therefore, if two harvests per year can be obtained in a greenhouse environment, this will also add special value to our variety," he said.

May it be beneficial for our country's economy

Manisa Governor Yaşar Karadeniz, drawing attention to the fact that Manisa ranks first in grape production in Turkey and that more than 85% of total seedless Sultaniye dried grape production and 20% of fresh grapes are produced in Manisa, spoke as follows: "The research conducted by our Viticulture Research Institute and the research it has conducted to increase products have made significant contributions to reaching this production volume. In addition to this, it is conducting research on new varieties. Currently, we are carrying out the first harvest this year of the Spil Karası grape variety, which has been developed over 3 years. After this year, we hope Spil Karası will also become a commercially used grape variety. This is a product entirely developed by Manisa Viticulture Research Institute. May it be beneficial and auspicious for our province's growers, our province's economy, and our country's economy."