Genetic Markers Speed Seedless Muscadine Breeding

New DNA testing allows grape breeders to identify seedless, self-pollinating vines years earlier

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:24am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, highly structured painting in soft earth tones depicting the intricate genetic forces and molecular structures underlying the development of seedless, self-pollinating muscadine grape varieties, conveying the scientific complexity of this plant breeding breakthrough through bold geometric shapes and botanical spirals.Innovative DNA testing is unlocking the genetic secrets to developing the next generation of flavorful, seedless muscadine grapes.Fayetteville Today

Researchers at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture have developed a new DNA testing method that allows grape breeders to identify seedless and self-pollinating muscadine grape vines years before the plants produce fruit. This breakthrough will save time and resources in the quest to create new flavorful muscadine grape varieties with improved consumer appeal.

Why it matters

Muscadine grapes are prized for their disease resistance and distinctive flavors, but have historically been difficult to breed with commercial table and wine grape varieties to create seedless, self-pollinating vines. This new DNA testing approach represents a major advancement that will accelerate the development of improved muscadine grape cultivars for fresh markets and juice/wine production.

The details

The researchers used a genotyping platform to test muscadine plant DNA for genetic markers indicating traits like seedlessness and self-pollination. They validated the accuracy of this system by testing over 1,100 grape plants, correctly predicting flower sex and seedlessness with over 99% accuracy. This allows grape breeders to cull undesirable seedlings much earlier in the breeding process, focusing resources on the most promising candidates.

  • The study was published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences.
  • The University of Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program has been working with seedless muscadine germplasm since 2017 and expects to release its first seedless muscadine variety in the next few years.

The players

Margaret Worthington

Associate professor of horticulture and director of the Fruit Breeding Program for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

Isabella Vaughn

Graduate student in the department of horticulture and first author on the published study.

VitisGen3 Project

A research initiative funded by the USDA's Specialty Crop Research Initiative that supported this work.

Vitis-x-Muscadinia

A research project funded by the USDA's Specialty Crop Research Initiative that supported this work.

Gardens Alive!

A company that developed the seedless RazzMatazz® muscadine hybrid grape in 2017 and the seedless, powdery-mildew resistant Oh My!® muscadine in 2022.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is a resource to the global breeding community.”

— Margaret Worthington, Associate professor of horticulture

“She did a great job. She scored a lot of plants, coordinated a lot of logistics and helped us to start using the markers in our program.”

— Margaret Worthington, Associate professor of horticulture

What’s next

The University of Arkansas Fruit Breeding Program has advanced seedless muscadine germplasm in the pipeline and expects to release its first seedless muscadine variety in the next few years.

The takeaway

This new DNA testing approach represents a major breakthrough that will dramatically accelerate the development of improved muscadine grape varieties with enhanced consumer appeal, such as seedlessness and self-pollination. It is a valuable resource for grape breeders worldwide working to combine the unique flavors and disease resistance of muscadines with the desirable traits of commercial table and wine grapes.