Winegrowers Supplies
- Rootstocks for Grafted Vines
The main rootstocks used for grafting in Germany and Luxembourg are SO4 and Binova, 5C, 5BB and 125AA. These are crosses between two native American vines (Vitis berlandieri x Vitis riparia) and thus have the highest resistance to phylloxera. Published information on these rootstocks is generally incomplete and occasionally contradictory, so I have compiled data from various sources (German Federal Office for Varieties; Taschenbuch der Rebsorten; Geisenheim publications, French publications etc.):-
These rootstocks are suitable for soils with pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Outside this range it would be beneficial (though not essential) to adjust the pH. In our experience SO4 performs adequately in acid red sandstone at pH 5.2 and also in almost solid chalk at pH 8.3 (about 20% 'active' limestone).
Choosing a rootstock, for the variety you wish to grow, depends on your soil, on
the training system / plant spacing, the strength of growth of the variety and
its sensitivity in flowering, on how well it ripens its wood and its resistance
to winter-frost, on the susceptibility to fungal diseases and the time of
ripening. Some of the points for consideration are :-
1. A training system with 1000 vines per acre (which is wide planting by
European standards) needs at least an average (Fercal or Gravesac) or vigorous rootstock (SO4, 5C).
2. Sensitive (weak) flowering varieties (Siegerrebe, Gewürztraminer etc) should not be on 5BB or 125AA.
3. Naturally very strong growing varieties (Huxelrebe, Regner, Auxerrois, Dornfelder) should
be on a vigorous rootstock (SO4, 5C).
4. Weak-growing but strong flowering varieties (Seyval, Senator) benefit from a
very vigorous rootstock (5BB) in order to produce sufficient leaf-wall for optimum flowering and ripening.
5. Müller-Thurgau, Huxelrebe, Reichensteiner, which have only moderate wood-ripening and poor winter-frost
resistance, should not be on 5BB, particularly in more northerly districts. Faberrebe, Regner and Würzer
should also not be on 5BB.
The main rootstocks now used in France are SO4, 3309, Fercal and 161-49. French vines are relatively close planted so they tend to use less vigorous rootstocks.
Here is a table of rootstock information from French (and German) nurseries:-
| Rootstock |
Resistance to chalk/limestone |
Strength of growth |
Adaptation to badly drained soils |
Resistance to drought |
Effect on the vegetative cycle |
Type of growth |
Notes |
|
|
Active% |
Total% |
|||||||
| 3309C | 11 |
to 10 |
Medium |
Tolerant enough | Weak to average | Advancing | Semi-tracing |
Rootstock with a regular fruitfulness and advances
maturation. To avoid with Pinots in heavy ground. Sensitive to nematodes. |
| Gravesac | 12/14 |
to 20 |
Medium |
Tolerant | Average | Advancing | Semi-plunging | Good behavior in sandy and acid ground. Seems to support quality. It's use is very recent so it is not possible yet to know all the behavior. |
| 5C | 15 |
to 30 |
Medium to Vigorous |
- | - | - | - | Not for cold wet soils or very dry soils. |
| Börner | 15 |
to 20 |
Vigorous |
- | High | - | - |
V.Riparia x V.Cinerea. Geisenheim clone 1 Gm. Not suited to high chalk soils. Roots are phyloxera resistant. |
| SO4 | 18/20 |
to 30 |
Medium to vigorous |
Good | Average to good | Normal | Semi-plunging | It supports fruitfulness and is sometimes a little too productive, but with control has a good quality potential. It adapts to the majority of soils. |
| Binova | 20/30 |
to 40 |
A little stronger than SO4 |
Good | Average to good | Normal | Semi-plunging | A mutation of SO4. Clone 1 Op. |
| 125AA | 30 |
to 50 |
Vigorous |
- | - | - | - | - |
| 5BB | 20 | to 40 |
Very vigorous |
Good | Average to good | Delaying | Semi-plunging | Good behavior in poor ground and with types of vines with weak production of wood. Lengthens the vegetative cycle. Resistant to chlorosis. |
| 34EM | 20 | to 35 |
Vigorous |
Tolerant | Good | Advances a little | Semi-plunging | Good resistance to drought, offers a good balance of fruit/vegetation, supports quality but can be too vigorous in rich and heavy ground. |
|
420A |
20 |
to 40 |
Weak to medium |
Tolerant |
Average to weak |
Advancing |
Semi-plunging |
Intermediate rootstock between SO4 and 161-49; it is used more and more for the production of high-class wines, in particular in Burgundy. |
| 161-49 | 25 | to 50 |
Medium to weak |
Sensitive | Average to weak | Advancing | Semi-plunging |
Early and good behaviour in light and deep ground. It decreases the risks of
penduncular rot but is to be avoided with Pinots. Sensitive to nematodes. |
|
333EM |
40 |
to 70 |
Vigorous |
Tolerant |
Average |
Normal |
Plunging |
Suitable for limestone while being less sensitive to magnesium deficiency than Fercal is. |
| Fercal | 40/50 | to 120 |
Medium |
Tolerant | Weak to average | Normal | Tracing | The most resistant to active limestone. Precocity and fruitfulness average. High sensitivity to magnesium deficiency. |
|
Riparia Gloire |
3/6 |
to 5 |
Weak |
Sensitive to Tolerant |
Weak |
Advancing |
Tracing |
Rootstock with low strength, not for chalk/limestone, vines with strong density of plantation; mainly used for the production of top-of-range. |
|
196-17 |
6 |
to 5 |
High |
Sensitive |
High |
- |
- |
Sensitive to nematodes. |
|
101-14 |
9 |
to 10 |
Medium |
Tolerant |
Average |
- |
- |
- |
|
Rupestris du Lot |
14 |
to 20 |
Very high |
Sensitive to tolerant |
High to very high |
- |
- |
- |
|
R 99 |
14 |
to 20 |
High |
Medium |
High |
- |
- |
- |
|
R 110 |
17 |
to 30 |
Medium |
Medium |
Average |
- |
- |
Susceptible to chlorosis. |
|
1103 P |
17 |
to 30 |
Very high |
Medium |
Very high |
- |
- |
Tolerant of salty soils. |
|
Ru 140 |
20 |
to 90 |
High |
Medium |
High |
- |
- |
- |
|
41 B |
40 |
to 60 |
Medium |
Sensitive |
Medium |
- |
- |
Sensitive to nematodes. |
|
Teleki 8B |
High |
High |
Medium |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Not for very dry soils. |