THE LIMITS IN HYBRIDIZATION OF VITIS ROTUNDIFOLIA 
WITH RELATED SPECIES AND GENERA 
FIRST REPORT* 
L. R. Detjen, Assistant Horticulturist 
INTRODUCTION 
The investigational work with Muscadine grapes at the ISTorth Caro¬ 
lina Agricultural Experiment Station has proceeded to a point where 
it has become both desirable and necessary to determine at least the 
approximate limits within which hybridization of individuals of this 
species with other species, and even genera, can be effected. Such a 
determination being made, there is no doubt that conclusions concern¬ 
ing the most profitable course to pursue in the work of hybridization 
can be drawn, thus gaining valuable information and time in the work 
of improving this most important Southern grape. 
Some work along this line has already been done, but because of the 
meagre amount of literature on the subject and its evident lack of sup¬ 
port in the form of results of systematic investigation, as well as for the 
sake of collecting and preserving the facts concerning what has been 
accomplished, a brief review of the work of earlier grape breeders with 
special regard to the limits within which Yitis rotundifolia can be hy¬ 
bridized will first be made. 
A REVIEW OF THE WORK OK HYBRIDIZATION OF YITIS 
ROTUNDIFOLIA 
1. Work of Yan Buren, Clarksville, Ga., Prior to 1868. 
From all that we can learn of Yan Buren’s work in hybridizing Yitis 
rotundifolia, we find that he nei^er was successful in producing a hybrid 
of this with any other species. 
2. Work of Dr. Peter Wylie, Chester, S. C., Prior to 1877. 
From the meagre evidence that is available of Dr. Peter Wylie’s work 
on the hybridization of the Rotundifolia grapes, we learn that he was 
without doubt the first to produce hybrids with Yitis rotundifolia. 
These hybrids were the progeny of Vitis vinifera crossed with pollen 
from Yitis rotundifolia. 
Because of the brevity of the article in which Dr. Wylie sets forth his 
conclusions drawn from work that he did with Yitis rotundifolia, the 
last two paragraphs from his report on progress of his experiments in 
* Original manuscript submitted for publication January, 1919. 
