VITICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE - TEKİRDAĞ / TURKEY 2020

1 – AREA OF DUTY

Date of Establishment: 1930

Territorial Area of Duty: Across Turkey

Regional Area of Duty: (11 provinces) Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, Edirne, Çanakkale, Bursa, Yalova, Sakarya,  İstanbul, Bilecik, Balıkesir, Kocaeli 

Duties: Viticulture, Fruit Growing, Plant Protection, Soil and Water Resources

1. In line with improvement and cultivation techniques and market demands, developing new grape cultivars, improving efficiency and quality, increasing resistance against diseases, and harmful and adverse environmental conditions, and conducting basic and applied researches through the use of new techniques and technologies, while carrying out these tasks,

2. Improving efficiency of plant nutrition and agricultural pest control through agricultural mechanization and information technologies, sensitive agriculture techniques or early warning systems, and conducting researches to reduce harvest or post-harvest period yield losses,

3. Establishing database for types of raisins, table grapes and wine grapes,

4. Performing works with regard to collection, conservation, and definition of grapevine germplasms, cultivation of the same in case it is necessary, and their usage in breeding programs, in order to preserve biological diversity with regard to viticulture and to ensure sustainable use,

5. Ensuring the registration of new grape cvs. developed upon breeding studies, and the continuity of bred material,

6. Establish prebasic and basic parcels of grape cvs. that are in National Grapevine List, preserving these material and transmitting certified propagation material to demanding nurseries,

7. Performing works with regard to grapevine disease and pest control methods,

8. Developing proper methods and technology for effective usage of water in agriculture,

9. Researching the effect of plant nutrients and soil reconditioners on soil efficiency and quality and developing proper fertilization techniques,

10. Conducting researches on grapevine and fruit physiology,

11. Monitoring vine phenology, making observations, and making suggestions to decision makers to prevent potential crises through preparation of reports also including estimated yield with regard to harvest periods.

2 – DEPARTMENTS:

Department of Cultivation Tech. and Operations

1. Breeding and Genetic Department
2. Cultivation Technique and Operations Department
   
3. Food Technologies Department
4. Agricultural Mechanization Department
   
5. Human Resources Unit
6. Financial Affairs Unit
7. Support Services Unit
8. Maintenance Repair Services Unit
9. Training, Education and Extension Unit

3 – PERSONNEL:

74 personnel, consisting of

• 21 Engineers
• 10 Technicians / Operators / Laboratory Assistants
• 9 Officers
• 6 Permanent Workers
  
• 28 Seasonal Workers

Researcher Profile:

21 Academic personnel, with

• 7 Phd.
• 14 Msd.
  

4 – ANALYSIS AND LABORATORY CAPACITY

Land Size: As of today, the total land of the institution amounts to 955.000 m². Research and production activities are maintained on 91% of the land size. It is possible to carry out irrigated farming on 75% of the latter section. Vineyards used for research and production purposes occupy a space of 180.000 m². A space of around 400.000 m² is allocated to vine nurseries. While grapevine rootstocks are cultivated on an area of 150.000 m² to obtain cuttings for grafting or rooted plant production.

Laboratory Capacity: "ATA Oral Technology Center", established within Tekirdağ Viticulture Research Institute, hosts laboratories and units, where works on subjects vital for our viticulture industry, are provided.  

• Food Technologies Laboratory: At the Food Technologies Laboratory, researches are conducted on the compatibility of grape varieties cultivated in Turkey, and particularly the varieties cultivated in the National Collection Vineyard, for wine, grape juice, grape molasses and other grape products process. The chemical, physical and sensory quality properties of grapes and grape products are subjected to examination through the advanced technological means our laboratory enjoys.

• Tissue Culture Laboratory: Tissue culture laboratory enjoys the infrastructure necessary for the subjects of work specified below;

1- Obtainment of production material free from virus diseases through meristem culture,

2-Embryo culture efforts towards improvement of seedless grapes,

3- Efforts towards obtainment of polyploidy and haploid plant,

• Molecular Biology Laboratory: Molecular biology laboratory enjoys the infrastructure necessary for the subjects of work specified below;

1- Defining and distinguishing grape varieties through standard markers,

2- Determination of synonymous and homonymous grapevine genotypes,

3- Determination of degrees of relations between vine genetic sources,

4- Early selection efforts by means of markers,

5- Determination of markers resistant to biotic and abiotic stress conditions

• Plant Health Laboratory: Identification and diagnosis of diseases and weeds observed in vineyard and fruit production areas, researches and implementation efforts towards their biology and control, are conducted at the Plant Health Laboratory. Feasibility of brand new control methods to our nation's and region's plant health problems, is researched. Project activities, predominated by integrated and biologic control efforts, are conducted, with particular importance given to environmental and human health. 

• Physiology Laboratory: Leaf area index, photosynthesis/stoma conductivity, leaf/stem water potential measurements are carried out at the Physiology Laboratory, where other efforts on the subject are similarly conducted.
  
   
• Grape Products Process Plant: A "Grape Products Process Plant" has been established in order to produce concrete input in the light of data obtained from research efforts and experiences gained, to engage in the industrial dimension of the work and to establish a facility, which would set an example for demonstrative purposes. Our process facility consists of two separated production sections; grape juice-grape molasses process Unit and Vinegar – pickled leaves of vine process Unit. Also production efforts have been initiated with regard to raisins and grape seed. Trademark and registration permits have been obtained for the products produced, with the trademark "Tekirbağ".
  
   
• Technology Transfer Office: The office was established under Tekirdağ Viticulture Research Institute Directorate in the year 2013, upon the obtainment of Thrace Development Agency's support for prioritization of the development of infrastructure addressed towards the cooperation between universities, research centers and businesses; and it maintains its technical support activities in cooperation with industry stakeholders.

5 – PROJECTS

A total of 95 projects have been completed for General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, other Public Agencies, Private Sector and Foreign Institutions, and 31 projects are currently ongoing.  

OUR REGISTERED GRAPE CULTIVARS

A total of 17 new grape cvs. was developed and registered

(Trakya İlkeren, Tekirdağ Çekirdeksizi, Barış, Reçel Üzümü, Güz Üzümü, Özer Karası, Tekirdağ Misketi, Tekirdağ Sultanı, Bozbey, Güz Gülü, Gönül Çelen, Cengizbey, Özer Beyazı, Emirali, Kebeli, Gürnil, Süleymanpaşa Beyazı)