Shasla tetri
Shasla – is a widely known vine varieties. This name encounters many forms which result from vegetation selection, interbreeding or seed pollination, for example Shasla Tetri, Pink Shasla, Muscatel, Shasla Grokulari, Violet Shasla , Shasla No.135, Okhrakhushisebri and so on, of which the most prominent and popular is Tetri Shasla . This is distinguished by high adaptability to ecological conditions, good harvesting and high quality.
Due to these positive features, French scientist Piulia used Tetri Shasla as the basis for systematizing the ripening periods of all the vine varieties in the world. Consequently, varieties which ripen earlier than Shasla Tetriare called „early“, while those which ripen during the „Shasla“ ripening period are called „varieties of the first period“, and those which ripen after two-three weeks are called „varieties of the second, third or fourth periods.“ Having many forms, clones and synonyms, Shasla is definitely of ancient origin. Some ampelographs state that Shasla emanates from Asia, while some state that Shasla comes from France.
According to the latest observations, the ancient homeland of Shasla should be considered Egypt, namely the Oasis of Fiume situated near to Cairo, where its oldest form is found; the so called „Shasla with black grain.“
With its morphological and biological characteristics, Tetri Shasla belongs to the oriental eco-geographical group of vines.
Tetri Shasla is presented in nearly all viticulture districts of the world; it is widely distributed in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Italy, Alger, Hungary, Rumania, Turkey, and so on (6).
In the Soviet Union, Tetri Shasla was brought in from the 19th century; where it was first implemented in the southern regions of Crimea, from where it was gradually conveyed to and developed in other viticulture regions of the Soviet Union.
Nowadays, Tetri Shasla is widely distributed in Ukraine and Moldova. It can also be found in Krasnodar and Stavropol, in Grozno, Stalingrad, Astrakhan, Kaminski, Kabardo and Dagestan.
In Georgia, it was imported in the 20th century, together with other European varieties, and is mostly distributed in Eastern Georgia.
Nowadays, great attention is paid to Shasla , especially in the suburbs of Tbilisi where table grape farms exist (in Dighomi, Samgori, Lilo, and Varketili). In addition to table wine, it will also be used as a table grape.
Some roots of Tetri Shasla are also to be found in the districts of Abkhazia, Adjara, and in Tbilisi, as much in private vineyards as in vine collectives of Telavi, Dighomi and Sakare.
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Botanical description
Tetri Shasla was described on the educational farm of Dighomi (the suburb of Tbilisi), a vineyard which has been cultivated since 1949, on a 1.5 x 1.5m feeding area, in a thin layer of soil which presents a subsoil of stone and gravel taken from the river Mtkvari. The vines are grafted on Berlandieri Riparia 5bb, formed following the two-sided Georgian rule, with an average of 14-16 buds loading.
The young shoot
The cone of the growth is bare and slightly covered with extremely thin down and is colored bronze-golden. The first newly broken and the following second and third leaves are bare on the upper surface, and between the veins are colored bright bronze or golden. The young sprout is bare and bright green, near the basis being slightly reddish.
The mature sprout is middle sized; at the time of full ripening it takes on a bright straw color, with a brown hue. The axils are much darker, distanced 9 - 15cm from each other.
The leaf
The mature leaf is middle sized or smaller, about 14.6 - 17.5cm long and 13.6 - 16.6cm wide, by shape- round, with many lobes- most commonly five. The blade is generally similar to a funnel, rarely being laminar. Its surface is often wrinkled, rarely smooth. The upper surface is smooth while the undersides are covered with short hairy down around the veins.
The incision of the leaf’s petiole is mostly closed and has a narrow elliptical hole. The margins are close to each other and tightly touching. Also, incisions can be found which are open and narrow with sharp basis.
Upper incisions are more frequently open and deeply incision. The basis of an incision comes to the midrib and is similar to a lyre; roundish or sharp.
The lower incisions are middle in size and mostly open, with the shape of a lyre and sharp basis, rarely being roundish. The basis is 1/3 of the leaf.
The teeth of the margins are longish, triangular, with sharp or sharpened tips. The secondary teeth are often triangular with a sharp or roundish tip. Teeth can also be found which resemble saw teeth or are dome-shaped.
The proportion of leaf petiole to the major vein equals 0.8 - 1.0. The petiole is bare and bright green, with reddish wine-colored lines.
The flower
Flowers are hermaphroditic, has normally developed pistil and stamens. In a flower there are five stamens. In an inflorescence there are about 250 - 300 flowers.
The bunch
The pedicel of the bunch is quite long, about 3.5 - 7cm. At the time of full grape ripening, pedicels become woody, while the part including the shoot is grass-like and bright green.
Bunches are middle sized, sometimes smaller than average at 11.5 - 15cm long and 9.0 - 10.5cm wide. The length of a large bunch is 17.5cm, while the width is 11.5cm. The general shape of a bunch is cylindrical-cone or cylindrical, sometimes with wings. The bunch is moderate, dense, and sometimes thin.
The grain
The length of the berry pedicel, together with the receptacle equals 4.5 - 6mm. The receptacle is wrinkled and short cone-shaped. Grains are middle sized, about 14 - 17mm long and 13.6 - 16.8mm wide, round, widening in the center, and have rounded and symmetrical ends. Grains are whitish-green, and, at the time of full ripening, take on brown spots on the side facing the sun, and a golden coloring. The skin of the berry is quite thin and elastic, juicy and fleshy; the juice is uncolored, tender and the fruit has a very pleasant taste.
The seed
In a berry there are one to four seeds, more frequently 2-3. Seeds are about 4.5 - 6mm long and 3.5 - 4mm wide. They are brown on the rear side, while inside – patterned with the bright-straw lines and a brown hue. The seed is roundish and slightly oval. The basis is situated close to the abdomen and is quite expressed and rounded. The cylindrical tip has a similar coloring to the seed and is 1.5 - 1.9mm long.
Agro-biological description
Phenological observations of the biological phases of Tetri Shasla‘s development were carried out on the Soviet farm of Dighomi. Below is given 5 year data about this variety from Telavi and Sakare (see Table 1).
As Table 1 indicates, Shasla begins to blossom earlier in the Sakare zone (Zestafoni district), where the grape becomes mature comparatively early (30 August) and the time of budding to full grape-ripening equals 136 days where, in Dighomi and Telavi, the grape comes to full ripening at nearly the same time – 8 - 9 September.
For comparison, below is given the data of observations carried out on Soviet farms which are included in the monograph by V. Komarova (see Table 2).
As Table 2 illustrates, Tetri Shasla becomes mature much earlier in the viticulture districts of Tashkenti and Yalta (13 - 17 August), than in Moscow (1 October) and Kiev (15 September). In other districts, it comes to its full ripening period from the second part of August to the end of it; very convenient for wide cultivation in these districts.
The growth of the vine and sprout ripening
In strong and fertile soils, in accordance with advanced agro technical means, Tetri Shasla is characterized with strong growth. For example, in Dighomi, some sprouts can reach 1.5m or more in length. Shasla’s development is relatively slower in dry and poor soils. At the time of full grape-ripening, the sprouts also become mature and take on a characteristic coloring.
The productivity
In the surrounding zone of Tbilisi, Tetri Shasla gives first sign of harvest from the second year of planting, with significant harvesting taking place from the third year and full productivity from the fourth year. When cultivated properly, in deep and strong soils, it generates additional buds that are fully productive.
In Dighomi viticulture zone, the vineyards of Tetri Shasla provide an annual surplus harvest. When the vineyards are formed based on the Georgian rule- by two-sided cordon –and the vines are loaded with 70 buds per hectare, then the general yield comes to 90 - 130 centners. The productivity per vine equals 2.5 - 3kg. In irrigated and deep strong soils, vines are able to generate typically large bunches, large and beautiful berries so that the weight of a bunch can be defined as 300g or more. While, when the vine growth is slow and ineffective, shallow, thin bunches with small berries are generated that lack industrial value.
Below are given the productivity characteristics of Tetri Shasla from the vineyards of Dighomi, Telavi and Sakare (see Table 3)
A similar picture was displayed by Tetri Shasla in republics outside Georgia, for instance, in Odessa, where the number of productive sprouts comes to 70.8%, while the coefficient of the productivity was 1.0 - 1.2. The average weight of a bunch equals 100 - 180 g which is 98 - 108 centners per hectare. In the southern regions of Crimea, the productivity of Tetri Shasla varies depending on ecological conditions and, according to the institute of Magarachi, it provides 96-123 centners of grape per hectare. In the SSR of Moldova, this is – 70 – 120 centners per hectare. The same can be seen in Krasnodar, Rostov and Novocherkask (6).
This variety is characterized by flower-fall, especially during the blossom period and in undesirable weather conditions (frequent rain, temperature change, strong winds). In such circumstances nearly 40 - 50% of flowers fall, causing a shallowness of bunches, but if the weather improves, then these berries will grow more and consequently its agricultural value will increase. Small berries are noticeable if the temperature reduces during the blooming phase.
Durability against pests and fungal diseases
In Georgia, Tetri Shasla does not show significant sensitivity to powdery mildew and downy mildew. However, phylloxera causes great damage and, as a defensive measure, Tetri Shasla requires grafting on phylloxera resistant rootstocks such as Berlandieri X Riparia 5bb. Very undesirable is also the spider mite, for example- in Dighomi it caused the deformation of Tetri Shasla leaves, weak development of the vine and the degradation of the vegetative masse, whenever it does not effect on other vine varieties (Ganjura, Aleksandrouli Muscatel, Shavtita and others) not any way.
Response of varieties to different environmental conditions
Observation has proved that in Georgia Tetri Shasla gives large and qualitive production when cultivated in deep, strong soils and sunny areas of the south. In droughty years, the harvest of Tetri Shasla can be significantly low in amount and quality.
The variety is not vulnerable to winter frosts. For example, in Dighomi viticulture zone, in a 14 - 16o temperature, if the vegetative parts of the vine are completely ripen, they do not get damaged, and only 5 - 6% of buds receive damage. Low temperature effects the vine more strongly if the vegetation parts are not ripen and in addition, if the action of mite and improper irrigation have occurred; consequently, one year vegetative parts of the grape were massively damaged.
Some agro-technical specificities
As we have noted above, Tetri Shasla is characterized by moderate growth and does not require a large feeding area. In Georgia, when cultivating vineyards by the use of mechanized activities, a 2 x1.25m feeding area needs to be given, while in the case of the usual cultivation methods - either 1.5 x 1.5 or 1.5 x 1.25m should be allocated. The loading and forming should be defined respectively; observation indicates that heavy-loading greatly improves the productivity during the first few years, then stops and continues a normal or low standard of growth and harvest. In Dighomi and Samgori, as well as in other districts of its distribution, Tetri Shasla provides the best characteristics when it is formed by the free rule of forming or two-sided cordon, and is loaded by 16 - 18 buds. In this situation, the vine’s vegetation strength is high, and regularly provides an abundant yield.
The fruiting sprout generates productive buds along the whole length, thus, long cutting (7 - 12 buds) as well as short (5 buds) can be effective in harvesting. But on the first occasion there is the risk of a lack of vine growth resulting in aging. Therefore, it is better to allocate the buds at 2 - 3 fruiting buds and the same number of basic buds in order to guarantee the normal development of the vine, and high productivity.
Agro-technical characterization
By agricultural value, Tetri Shasla belongs to the quality table wine group, as it ripens annually, is very productive, has beautiful bunches, and pleasant and aromatic berries.
These characteristics are shown in all major viticulture districts of Georgia; resulting in its fame and respect throughout the same. Below are given the results of the mechanical-chemical analysis of the Tetri Shasla grape from Dighomi, Telavi and Sakare (see Table 4).
In some years, when the temperature is high during the grape ripening period, there can be a high accumulation of sugar, up to 19% (in Dighomi), and the reduction of acidity (4.2 - 4.5%) that makes the production inferior and less cheerful for consumption.
The average weight of 100 berries is 205 - 220g, with 4.0 - 4.8 seed weight.
The berries with one seed make up 14%, with two seeds – 40%, with three seeds – 38%, and with four seeds – 8%.
To compare each, below are given the results of the mechanical analysis of the Tetri Shasla grape collected from different viticulture districts, presented in work compiled by E. Komarova (6) (see Table 5).
On Dighomi educational farm, the three early average dates indicated that the strength of the grain’s attachment to the pedicel is between 228 - 285g, while the resistance to pressing is 756 - 810g. In Sakare, these characteristics are 258g in the first case, and 740g in the other, which fully satisfies all requirements stated for a quality table grape variety.
Grapes remaining on the vine keep their agricultural value quite long, for example, in Tbilisi, it is successfully maintained until the end of October, but after picking to the end of December, however it loses weight by 20%.
Observation confirms that in the surroundings of Tbilisi the harvest of Tetri Shasla is better when carried out in the first half of September, when the grape consists of a normal distribution of sugar and acidity and is beautiful in coloring and with a harmonious taste.
If picked much earlier, the grape would not be characterized with these qualities. In Western Georgia, the best harvest time for Tetri Shasla should be considered as the end of August.
In Georgia, the production of Tetri Shasla is mostly applied for grape and this tendency will continue. The grape material can also be used for making spirit or wines of mass use.
From the evidence contained in special literature, is indicated that Tetri Shasla is characterized with nearly the same features of production as in other viticulture regions of the Soviet Union (in Ukraine, Moldova, Krasnodar, Stavropol and others), where the grape material, after sorting, is used for cognac spirit or grape juice (6).
General evaluation and distribution by district
Tetri Shasla is characterized by the normal growth and development as much in its major distribution areas (in the suburbs of Tbilisi), as in Telavi (Telavi district), Mukhrani (Mtskheta district), Khidistavi (Gori district), Sakare (Zestafoni district), in Keda (Adjara district), and Gudauta (Abkhazia district). It provides high qualitative and quantitative production.
Tetri Shasla is prospective to be cultivated in mountainous districts of Georgia, where idigenous grape varieties are not able to reach full maturity, for example, in the mountainous zone of Tbilisi (Tskneti, Okrokana, Shindisi, Kojori and others), in Tetritskaro and Dmanisi; in Meskheti – the districts of Akhaltsikhe, Adigeni and Aspindza; in Svaneti – the districts of Lentekhi and Mestia; in the mountainous zone of Chokhatauri (Surebi, and Khevistskali), Khulo (ASSR of Adjara) and so on.
Important attention should be paid to the cultivation of Tetri Shasla in the districts of Abkhazia and Adjara, in order to maintain the supply of the sea resorts and touristic centers with consumption grape.
As it is very vulnerable to phylloxera; the cultivation of Tetri Shasla should be conducted by using phylloxera resistant grafts, basically, grafted on Berlandieri X Riparia 5bb. The forming should be maintained by two-sided cordon, with 16-18 bud loading. To fight against the spider mite, all agricultural measures should be undertaken and activities conducted in a timely and professional manner.
Bibliography
1. Kutubudze G. Prospective Varieties of Table Vine in Tbilisi Zone. Moambe of Academy of Science of Georgia, Tbilisi, 1958.
2. Ramishvili M. Prospective Table Grape Varieties for Kartli Conditions, Established in Dighomi Collective Plot.
3. Cholokhashvili S., Viticulture, Vol. II, Ampelography. Tbilisi, 1938.
