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GrapesAll seasonsPlanting materialUpdated 15 August 2026

Sonaka

An improved Thompson-type seedless selection widely grown for the fresh and export market. Not yet individually researched for a detail page.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity period~140 days
Expected yieldVery high
Suitable soilLoam

Quick facts

Crop
Grapes
Type
Planting material
Season
All seasons
Maturity period
~140 days
Expected yield
Very high
Suitable soil
Loam
Release
Released 1977 · a grower-selected clonal mutant of Thompson Seedless, not an ICAR/university-bred release

About this variety

Sonaka is a golden-hued clonal mutant of Thompson Seedless — selected by grape growers and released in 1977, not through a formal ICAR or university breeding programme — with larger, elongated, crunchy berries and a touch more tartness than its parent. It is one of the most widely exported Indian table-grape varieties and is also used extensively for raisin production.

Key characteristics

    Plant typePlanting material
    Maturity~140 days
    Yield potentialVery high
    Disease resistanceMildew-susceptible
    SoilLoam
    SeasonAll seasons

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

~140 days

Expected yield

Very high

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Major diseases

  • Mildew-susceptible

Advantages & considerations

Things to consider

  • No ICAR/university release record found — like Manik Chaman on this same crop page, Sonaka appears to be a farmer/grower-selected clonal mutant of Thompson Seedless rather than an institute-bred variety; noted so any "release" framing carries that caveat.
  • Sourced material describes Sonaka as a leading Indian grape export and a major raisin-production variety — broadly consistent with, and supportive of, this record's existing 'Very high' yieldPotential rating; no conflicting yield figures were found this phase (unlike Manik Chaman's unresolved yield conflict).
  • Being a direct clone of Thompson Seedless, it plausibly shares that parent's general disease susceptibilities, consistent with this record's existing 'Mildew-susceptible' rating, though no source directly confirmed disease response for Sonaka specifically.

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Maharashtra

Frequently asked questions

Is Sonaka a distinct breed or a version of another grape?

It is a clonal mutant of Thompson Seedless, released in 1977 — not an independently bred variety.

What is Sonaka mainly used for?

Fresh table consumption and export, plus significant use in raisin production.

How does Sonaka differ from Manik Chaman, the other Thompson mutant on this crop page?

Both are grower-selected clonal mutants of Thompson Seedless, but Sonaka was released earlier (1977 vs Manik Chaman's ~1982), is primarily an export/table grape with strong yield corroboration, while Manik Chaman is used mainly for raisins and has an unresolved yield-rating conflict in the sources checked.

Is Sonaka disease-resistant?

This record's existing 'Mildew-susceptible' rating is plausible given its Thompson Seedless parentage, though not independently confirmed for Sonaka specifically this phase.

What does the berry look like?

Golden-hued, larger and more elongated than typical round Thompson Seedless berries, crunchy with a slightly tart edge to the sweetness.