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 ROOTSTOCK DISTRIBUTION OF INTERNATIONAL FRUIT GENETICS VARIETIES BY COUNTRY (Source: Yiannis Kanakis) 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 SUNWORLD VARIETIES BY COUNTRY (Source: Garth Swinburn, Michele Melillo, Hovav Weksler, Pablo Ramirez, Daniel Desmartis) 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 SHEEHAN GENETICS (SNFL) VARIETIES BY COUNTRY (Source: Josep Estiarte, Elena Aguaron, Marcos Felici, Juan Guillermo Nunez)) 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, Ruggeri 140 (60%) P1103 (40%) Basilicate ITALY – Sicily Ruggeri 140 (50%), P1103 (50%) PERU Ramsey (80%) Freedom (20%) ROOTSTOCK GRAFTED FOR TABLE GRAPES IN SOUTH AFRICA (Source: PlantSA) 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 ** Includes grapes for raisins ROOTSTOCK DISTRIBUTION OF TABLE GRAPES PRODUCTION FOR UNIVIVEROS, CHILE (Source: Cristobal Raineri) 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 COMMERCIAL ROOTSTOCK RANGE 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 1613 C (Complex Vitis riparia Vitis rupestris x Vitis candicans x Vitis Freedom, Harmony vinifera x Vitis labrusca) x Dog Ridge (Vitis Champinii) 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 COMMERCIAL ROOTSTOCKS DEVELOPED (Vitis ripiaria, Vitis rupestris, Vitis Berlandieri) ROOTSTOCK BREEDER YEAR COUNTRY PARENTAGE Frederico Paulsen 1103 1895 SICILY Vitis Berlandieri x Vitis rupestris Paulsen Richter 110 Franz Richter 1889 FRANCE Vitis Berlandieri x Vitis rupestris Antonio Ruggeri 140 1897 SICILY Vitis Berlandieri x Vitis rupestris Ruggeri Franz Kober/ SO4 Zsigmond 1896 GERMANY Vitis Berlandieri x Vitis riparia Teleki Millardet, 101-14 1882 FRANCE Vitis rupestris x Vitis riparia de Grasset Rootstocks developed from Vitis Berlandieri, Vitis rupestris, Vitis riparia V Berlandieri x V rupestris x PARENTAGE V Berlandieri x V rupestris V riparia V riparia Paulsen 1103 Ruggeri 140 Richter 110 SO4 101-14 ROOTSTOCK (SICILY) (SICILY) (FRANCE) (GERMANY) (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 1 = Very low, 2 = Low, 3 = Moderate, 4 = High, 5 = Very high But what about the other rootstocks? ROOTSTOCK BREEDER YEAR COUNTRY PARENTAGE Thomas Ramsey 1900 TEXAS Vitis Champinii Munson Weinberger, 1613 C (Complex Vitis labrusca x Vitis riparia x Freedom Harmon 1967 CALIFORNIA Vitis vinifera, Vitis candicans) x Dog Ridge (Vitis Champinii) Weinberger, 1613 C (Complex Vitis labrusca x Vitis riparia x Harmony Harmon 1966 CALIFORNIA Vitis vinifera x Vitis candicans) x Dog Ridge (Vitis Champinii) 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. Rootstocks developed/selected from Ramsey Freedom Harmony ROOTSTOCK (Texas) (California) (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 Free lime sensitivity Active lime tolerance (Egypt) (Practical Ampelography, P Galet) ROOTSTOCK % ACTIVE LIME Harmony P1103 Ruggeri 140 25 R110, P1103, SO4 17 101-14 9 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 NURSERY VINE GROWTH HABIT (Source: Abou Aly Nurseries, Egypt) Prime Starlight Freedom Ramsey R110 P1103 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/ha Mean canes mass = 2,95 tons/ha Total root number = 595 Total root number = 343 Ramsey 101-14 Mgt Spatial distribution of roots in depth (Scion: Chenin blanc) Oakleaf soil type (sandy silt), Olifants River, South Africa (Source: The