Southern Sensation Seedless grapes’ toughness and disease resistance have made it a table grape option worthy of being called a Texas Superstar plant, said Larry Stein, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horticulture specialist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences, Uvalde.
Southern Sensation Seedless grapes are a collaboration between AgriLife Extension and the University of Arkansas and represent a breakthrough in table grape cultivation for the southern U.S. This new variety stands out for its remarkable resistance to Pierce’s disease – a key limiting factor for grape production in warm climates. Pierce’s disease is a bacterial pathogen that stunts grapevine growth and can kill plants.
To be designated a Texas Superstar, a plant must perform well for growers throughout the state. Texas Superstars must also be easy to propagate, ensuring the plants are widely available and reasonably priced.
