HISTORICAL REVIEW OF TABLE GRAPE ROOTSTOCKS AND CRITERIA FOR ITS CHOICE

Andrew Teubes

VG Nurseries

South Africa

Contents

• Current international rootstock pool for table grapes

• Genetics – parentage, geographical distribution and characteristics

• Rootstock characteristics and application

• Conclusions

COUNTRY MAIN ROOTSTOCKS OTHERS

USA Ramsey (90%) Freedom, Harmony, Paulsen1103

PERU Ramsey (95%) Paulsen1103

CHILE Paulsen1103 (40%) Freedom (30%), Harmony

BRAZIL Paulsen1103 (70%) Ramsey, Freedom, SO4, 101-14, 420A, 5C

SPAIN Paulsen1103 (80%) Ruggeri 140 (20%)

ITALY Ruggeri 140 (60%) Paulsen1103 (30%), Richter110

GREECE Paulsen 1103 (70%) Richter 110 (20%), Ruggeri 140 (10%)

AUSTRALIA Paulsen1103 (70%) Ramsey, Ruggeri 140, 101-14

SOUTH AFRICA Ramsey (85%) Paulsen1103, Richter110

EGYPT Ramsey (90%) Paulsen1103

ROOTSTOCK DISTRIBUTION OF INTERNATIONAL FRUIT GENETICS VARIETIES BY COUNTRY(Source: Yiannis Kanakis)

COUNTRY MAIN ROOTSTOCKS OTHERS

USA Freedom (80%+) Ramsey, Harmony, Paulsen1103

PERU Ramsey (88%) Freedom (9%), Harmony (3%)

CHILE Paulsen1103 (45%) Harmony (26%), Freedom (15%), Ramsey (8%)

SPAIN P1103 Richter110

ITALY P1103 (53%) Ruggeri140 (45%)

PORTUGAL P1103 (100%)

AUSTRALIA P1103 Ramsey, 101-14, Ruggeri140

SOUTH AFRICA Ramsey (80%) P1103, Richter110, US8-7

ISRAEL P1103 (50%), R110 (50%)

ROOTSTOCK DISTRIBUTION OF SUNWORLD VARIETIES BY COUNTRY(Source: Garth Swinburn, Michele Melillo, Hovav Weksler, Pablo Ramirez, Daniel Desmartis)

COUNTRY MAIN ROOTSTOCKS OTHERS

USA Freedom (85-90%) Harmony (7-8%), P1103, Ramsey

MEXICO Freedom (30%) Ramsey (30%), Own rooted (40%)

SOUTH AFRICA Ramsey (85%) P1103, Richter 110

EGYPT Ramsey (60%) Freedom (50%)

SPAIN - Murcia P1103 (95%) Ruggeri 140 (5%)

SPAIN - Alicante Ruggeri 140 (50%), P1103 (50%)

ITALY – Puglia, Basilicate

Ruggeri 140 (60%) P1103 (40%)

ITALY – Sicily Ruggeri 140 (50%), P1103 (50%)

PERU Ramsey (80%) Freedom (20%)

ROOTSTOCK DISTRIBUTION OF SHEEHAN GENETICS (SNFL) VARIETIES BY COUNTRY(Source: Josep Estiarte, Elena Aguaron, Marcos Felici, Juan Guillermo Nunez))

ROOTSTOCK 2015 (%) 2016 (%) 2017 (%) 2018 (%) 2019 (%)

RAMSEY** 72 75 77 80 75

P1103** 20 18 17 16 22

R110 5 5 4 3 3

US8-7 3 3 2 1 <1

ROOTSTOCK GRAFTED FOR TABLE GRAPES IN SOUTH AFRICA(Source: PlantSA)

** Includes grapes for raisins

ROOTSTOCK 2018 (%) 2019 (%) 2020 (%)

101-14 2 1 1

FREEDOM 18 17 22

HARMONY 24 20 15

P1103 47 37 42

RAMSEY 8 22 18

ROOTSTOCK DISTRIBUTION OF TABLE GRAPES PRODUCTION FOR UNIVIVEROS, CHILE(Source: Cristobal Raineri)

ROOTSTOCK PARENTAGE

P1103, R110, Ruggeri140 Vitis Berlandieri x Vitis rupestris

101-14 Vitis riparia x Vitis rupestris

SO4 Vitis Berlandieri x Vitis rupestris

Ramsey Vitis Champinii

Freedom, Harmony1613 C (Complex Vitis riparia Vitis rupestris x Vitis candicans x Vitis

vinifera x Vitis labrusca) x Dog Ridge (Vitis Champinii)

COMMERCIAL ROOTSTOCK RANGE

HISTORIC

• Phylloxera outbreak in Europe in late 1800’s prompted rootstock

development

• European viticulturists travelled to the USA in search of phylloxera

resistant American Vitis-species for use as rootstocks

• Key principles in rootstock selection (always keep in mind):

• Characteristics of grape species reflect their natural environment

• “Children” will reflect characteristics of “parents”

• Characteristics of rootstocks will reflect their selection criteria

Vitis riparia

• Moist, fertile, soft soils on river banks; also known as River Bank Grape; climbing growth habit

• Grows almost anywhere as long as there is adequate moisture (its distribution north of drier/warmer states of

southern USA)

• Shallow rooting (no need for deep moisture search)

• High cold hardiness – short vegetative cycle

Characteristics of Vitis riparia as commercial rootstock

• Recognized as potential breeding parent 1874 –viticulturists sent to Mississippi en Missouri River valleys for collection

• Was used directly as rootstock because it was easy to propagate (Riparia Gloire still used today)

• In grafted state:• Induced moderate vigour

• High yields, early maturity and high sugar levels

• Short vegetative cycle

• Sensitive to calcareous soils with free lime (high pH)

• Poor performance on dry, sandy soils (drought sensitive)

Vitis rupestris

• Grows as shrub/bush, does not have a climbing growth habit like Vitis riparia

• Prefers stony, well drained sites where roots can penetrate deep in search of moisture - deep rooting

• Grows in rocky river beds/sand bars that dry up in summer• Long vegetative cycle – late leaf fall

Characteristics of Vitis rupestris as commercial rootstock

• Very popular - could be used directly as rootstock because it was easy to propagate

• In grafted state:• Induced moderate vigour

• Late ripening of grapes, therefore warmer regions preferable

• Long vegetative cycle

• Poor performance on shallow, dry soils (drought sensitive)

• Poor performance soils with free lime

• Roots sensitive to fungi associated with wet sub soils

Vitis Berlandieri

• Native to Texas and New Mexico on shallow, dry soils underlain by limestone

• Numerous species with different growth habits depending on location• Small leaves, drought tolerant on hillsides –

deep rooting (selected for breeding)• Large leaves, climbing growth habit on river

banks• Known as “Fall Grape” because ripens fruit very late • Very long vegetative cycle, 4 weeks longer than Vitis

riparia• Shows high natural vigour• Grows well on soils rich in lime

• Vitis Berlandieri was never used directly as rootstock because it was very difficult to root, although grafting success with Vitis vinifera was good

BUT• Breeders now had a Vitis-species that showed good resistance to free

lime and drought tolerance that could be used as a breeding partner with Vitis rupestris and Vitis riparia

ROOTSTOCK BREEDER YEAR COUNTRY PARENTAGE

Paulsen 1103FredericoPaulsen

1895 SICILY Vitis Berlandieri x Vitis rupestris

Richter 110 Franz Richter 1889 FRANCE Vitis Berlandieri x Vitis rupestris

Ruggeri 140Antonio Ruggeri

1897 SICILY Vitis Berlandieri x Vitis rupestris

SO4Franz Kober/ZsigmondTeleki

1896 GERMANY Vitis Berlandieri x Vitis riparia

101-14Millardet,de Grasset

1882 FRANCE Vitis rupestris x Vitis riparia

COMMERCIAL ROOTSTOCKS DEVELOPED(Vitis ripiaria, Vitis rupestris, Vitis Berlandieri)

PARENTAGE V Berlandieri x V rupestrisV Berlandieri x

V ripariaV rupestris x

V riparia

ROOTSTOCKPaulsen 1103

(SICILY)Ruggeri 140

(SICILY)Richter 110(FRANCE)

SO4(GERMANY)

101-14(FRANCE)

PHYLLOXERA 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5

VIGOR 4 4.5 3.5 3 2.5

FREE LIME 4 5 4 4 2

DROUGHT 3.5 5 4 2 2

VEGETATIVE CYCLE Long Very long Long Medium short Short

Rootstocks developed fromVitis Berlandieri, Vitis rupestris, Vitis riparia

1 = Very low, 2 = Low, 3 = Moderate, 4 = High, 5 = Very high

ROOTSTOCK BREEDER YEAR COUNTRY PARENTAGE

RamseyThomas Munson

1900 TEXAS Vitis Champinii

FreedomWeinberger, Harmon 1967 CALIFORNIA

1613 C (Complex Vitis labrusca x Vitis riparia x Vitis vinifera, Vitis candicans) x Dog Ridge (VitisChampinii)

HarmonyWeinberger, Harmon 1966 CALIFORNIA

1613 C (Complex Vitis labrusca x Vitis riparia x Vitis vinifera x Vitis candicans) x Dog Ridge (VitisChampinii)

But what about the other rootstocks?

Vitis Champinii

• Native throughout central Texas

• Used directly as rootstock –Ramsey and Dog Ridge most well known

• In grafted state:• Challenging to propagate compared

to other commercial rootstocks

• Induced high vigour

• Deep rooting

• Good resistance to lime and excellent to nematodes

• Very long vegetative cycle

Freedom and Harmony

• Specifically bred for nematode resistance in San Joaquin Valley in California in late 1960’s

• Parentage• 1613 Couderc (Complex Vitis vinifera x Vitis labrusca x Vitis riparia x Vitis

candicans)• Dog Ridge (Vitis Champinii)

• Parent characteristics• 1613 C – Moderate vigour, easy to propagate, excellent nematode resistance,

poor free lime resistance, poor resistance to sub soil wetness, salinity, Phytophthora sp., medium/low phylloxera resistance

• Dog Ridge – Very high vigour, very difficult to propagate, excellent nematode resistance, good tolerance to salinity, free lime, sub soil wetness, Phytophthora sp.

ROOTSTOCKRamsey(Texas)

Freedom(California)

Harmony(California)

PHYLLOXERA 4 3 2

VIGOR 5 4 3

FREE LIME 4 3 2

DROUGHT 3.5 2.5 2.5

VEGETATIVE CYCLE Very long Long Medium

Rootstocks developed/selected from

Free lime sensitivity(Egypt)

Harmony P1103ROOTSTOCK % ACTIVE LIME

Ruggeri 140 25

R110, P1103, SO4 17

101-14 9

Active lime tolerance(Practical Ampelography, P Galet)

WHAT ELSE FOR TABLE GRAPES??

• Which other “protective/resistance” characteristics are important?• Resistance to nematodes?

• Resistance to sub soil wetness?

• Resistance to soil fungi like Phytophthora species?

• Resistance to salinity? (soil or irrigation water)

• Adaptability requirements?• Soil adaptability

• Climate TERROIRE

Physical soil conditions

•Rootstock differences pronounced in low potential soils

Sandy vs clayey vs rocky, low organic matter content• Deep vs shallow (hard pans)

• Naturally compact

• Layered (alluvial)

• Drainage

Freedom Ramsey R110 P1103

NURSERY VINE GROWTH HABIT(Source: Abou Aly Nurseries, Egypt)

Prime Starlight

Ramsey 101-14 Mgt

Spatial distribution of roots in depth (Scion: Chenin blanc)Hutton soil type (red, dry sandy), Olifants River, South Africa

(Source: The Grapevine root and its environment, 1988)

Mean canes mass = 4.2 tons/haTotal root number = 595

Mean canes mass = 2,95 tons/haTotal root number = 343

Spatial distribution of roots in depth (Scion: Chenin blanc)Oakleaf soil type (sandy silt), Olifants River, South Africa

(Source: The Grapevine root and its environment, 1988)

101-14 Mgt

Ruggeri 140 101-14 MgtRichter 110

Spatial distribution of roots in depth (Scion: Chenin blanc)Clovelly soil type (structureless, yellow/brown, 15% clay), Stellenbosch, South Africa

(Source: The Grapevine root and its environment, 1988)

Conclusions

• Soil environment determines the spatial distribution of roots in the profile• Even naturally shallow rooting varieties will penetrate deep if there is no

physical or chemical obstructions

• Once it reaches an obstruction, depth penetration will stop

• Proper soil preparation therefore imperative for optimal utilization of soil volume, irrespective of which rootstock is used

• Rootstock variety determines number of roots/concentration of roots• Clear rootstock preference for certain soil textures

• Roots will concentrate in layers suitable for it

Chemical soil conditions• Any ameliorant that must be mixed into soil to the depth of soil preparation

• Lime requirement for low pH soils

• Phosphates, Gypsum

Low pH sub soil Properly limed sub soil

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Ru 140 R110 Ramsey P1103 101-14

RO

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MA

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gram

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INFLUENCE OF LIMING ON ROOT MASS(Conradie, 1983)

pH 4.1 pH 5.0 pH 6.0

• What impact does the rootstock have on the vigour, size and quality of the crop………the interaction with the variety grafted to it?

• Vigour consists of 2 parts (according to Pierre Galet)

1. Rate of growth- In essence the aspect having impact on fruit set (shatter during bloom)

- High vigour increases potential for shatter....even more pronounced during heat waves (variety sensitivity is well known)

- High vigour during bloom and fruit set period may have negative impact on long term fruitfulness

- Continuous growth after veraison may also affect colour development

2. Capacity – total amount of fruit and wood produced- Crop load effects (berry size)

Influence of rootstock of longevity of vineyard

• Maintain vigour over 15-20 years (10-12 years tropical??)

• Table grape production is “forced labour” on a vine – grown on marginal soils, irrigated and fertilized heavily, high cropping levels, sometimes “harsh” climates

• Tropical environments – double pruning, very little R&R (rest and recuperation)

• Rootstock must have capacity to build reserves post-harvest• Up to 40% of nitrogen required for early season growth is absorbed post

harvest

How does rootstock relate to the climatic conditions/environment?• “Harsh” vs “soft” climate• “Harsh” = High maximum temperatures during high summer + low relative

humidity + strong, dry winds, together with cold, dry winters (Continental)• “Soft” = Mild summer temperatures + higher relative humidity

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Jan Feb Mrch April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

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AVERAGE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR TWO LOCATIONSIN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

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49 49 50

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3533

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60 6163

66 67 66 65 6563

61 60 59

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Jan Feb Mrch April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

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Upington Copiapo

RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR TWO LOCATIONSIN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

How can we determine if rootstock can handle “harsh” conditions?• Dr Peter Cousins said it perfectly:

• “Rootstock users should be aware of the conditions under which a rootstock was selected and why it was chosen and should try to match their expectations with the known attributes of a particular rootstock”

Paulsen1103, Ruggeri 140• Selected in Sicily• Warm, dry Mediterranean island with calcareous soils, low rainfall• Tough environment, so rootstock needs to be tough• Good vigour, deep rooting for good drought tolerance, highly resistant to free lime

• Imagine taking 101-14 to such an environment?• Selected in Bordeaux, France – very mild climatic environment• Induced early ripening, short vegetative cycle suitable for cooler regions• Poor drought tolerance, not deep rooting in tough soils + poor lime resistance• Chances of success???

ROOTSTOCK V Berlandieri x V rupestrisV Berlandieri x

V ripariaV rupestris x

V riparia

Paulsen 1103(SICILY)

Ruggeri 140(SICILY)

Richter 110(FRANCE)

SO4(GERMANY)

101-14(FRANCE)

SALINITY 3.5 3.5 4 2 3.5

NEMATODES – Root knot 3 2 3 4 3.5

NEMATODES – Dagger 1 1 1 2.5 2

SUB SOIL WETNESS 4 2 3.5 4 4

PHYTOPHTHORA sp 1 1 3 4 4

CLIMATE Harsh Harsh Harsh Soft Soft

Vitis Berlandieri, Vitis Rupestris, Vitis riparia rootstocks

ROOTSTOCK Ramsey(TEXAS)

Freedom(CALIFORNIA)

Harmony(CALIFORNIA)

SALINITY 4.5 2.5 2

NEMATODES – Root knot 5 5 4.5

NEMATODES – Dagger 2 3 3

SUB SOIL WETNESS 5 2 2

PHYTOPHTHORA sp 4.5 ? ?

CLIMATE Harsh Harsh Soft

Ramsey, Freedom, Harmony

Conclusions

• Adequate range of rootstocks for table grape industries• Most are of higher vigour and well adapted to the world’s table grape

environments

• Most were developed in the late 19th century and is still utilized, showing their long term success

• The fact that we can use a handful of rootstocks in all growing regions says a lot about the adaptability of Vitis-species in general

• When choosing rootstocks one should not focus on absolutes• Pragmatic, open minded approach – lots to consider

• Know the characteristics of each and apply it to your specific conditions

• Travel, read, discuss, experience, BUT DO NOT EXTRAPOLATE

Conclusions

• Rootstock choice is a long term decision• Farmers world wide have a “seeing is believing” approach to most farming

activities – risk management

• It must be based on sound knowledge of the rootstock

• BUT experience should “weigh heavier” – no substitute for experience

• Successful farmers are very perceptive and make good decisions• Intricate knowledge of each piece of land on his farm

• Knows what works and what not

• Inter plantings – establish some vines on different rootstocks in a block

• Resistance to change is common human attribute• In many ways it’s the “devil you know is better than the devil you don’t” type

of approach

• Change happens slowly, if necessary

Conclusions• Current rootstock spectrum very much regional or area specific, for good

reason• Ruggeri 140 – Italy• Ramsey – South Africa, Peru• Paulsen 1103 – Chile, Australia, Spain, Italy• Freedom – California, Chile

• Introduction of large number of new scion varieties over the past 10 – 15 years should not complicate decisions, because they are easier to grow than older varieties – no need to re-think rootstock range

• No compatibility issues between new scion cv’s and current rootstock range

• VIGOUR + MAINTAINING VIGOUR OVER TIME, is the key for successful table grape production• Be watchful of the more “sensitive” rootstocks – Harmony, R110• I would consider rather having slightly too much vigour than too little – vigour can be

managed by fertilizer applications• Much easier to manage vigour downwards than upwards

Acknowledgements

• Yiannis Kanakis, IFG

• Garth Swinburn, SW

• Teri Bacon, SW

• Michele Melillo, SW

• Hovav Weksler, Consultant

• Daniel Desmartis, SW

• Pablo Ramirez, SW

• Ignacio Letamendi, SNFLUniviveros

• Cristobal Raineri, Univiveros

• Josep Estiarte, SNFL

• Elena Aguaron, SNFL

• Marcos Felici, SNFL

• Juan Guillermo Nunez, SNFL

I’ll plant any rootstock, as long

as it’s RAMSEY

THANK YOU