Rootstock varieties

SO4

V. berlandieri x V. riparia

Vigour: medium
Drought tolerance: medium
Chlorosis resistance: good
Active lime tolerance¹: ~ 20 %
End of growing season²: medium

The SO4 rootstock can be used on many soils and sites and is particularly suitable for calcareous, deep and fertile soils. On dry, less fertile sites and with wide vine spacing, its vigour may be too weak.

Binova

V. berlandieri x V. riparia (SO4 mutation)

Vigour: medium (slightly stronger than SO4)
Drought tolerance: medium
Chlorosis resistance: good
Active lime tolerance¹: ~ 20 %
End of growing season²: medium – late

The Binova rootstock generally adapts to a wide range of soils and is particularly suitable for calcareous, fertile soils. It is especially recommended for varieties that are sensitive during flowering. Slightly more vigorous than SO4.

125AA

V. berlandieri x V. riparia

Vigour: medium – strong
Drought tolerance: medium
Chlorosis resistance: medium
Active lime tolerance¹: ~ 17 %
End of growing season²: medium

The 125 AA rootstock is particularly suitable for deep, stony soils that roots can penetrate easily. Thanks to its greater vigour, it also copes with drier sites. It is less suitable for overly shallow, wet and compacted soils. It roots well. Despite its greater vigour, it does not impair fruit set in varieties that are sensitive during flowering.

5BB

V. berlandieri x V. riparia

Vigour: strong
Drought tolerance: medium – good
Chlorosis resistance: good
Active lime tolerance¹: ~ 20 %
End of growing season²: medium – late

The 5BB rootstock is particularly suitable for permeable, lighter, low-vigour soils. On deep sites it can promote excessive vegetative growth, which can increase the risk of rot. With permanent cover cropping, its strong vigour is an advantage. On vigorous, fertile soils, the risk of coulure increases in varieties that are sensitive during flowering.

1103 Paulsen

V. berlandieri x V. rupestris

Vigour: strong
Drought tolerance: good
Chlorosis resistance: medium
Active lime tolerance¹: ~ 18 %
End of growing season²: late

The 1103 Paulsen rootstock is particularly suitable for deep, clayey and calcareous soils and for sites with longer dry periods. However, it is sensitive to waterlogging. It gives the scion variety very strong vegetative growth, meaning that it puts a lot of energy into shoots and leaves. In cooler years, the long growing cycle can delay grape ripening and wood maturation. It promotes coulure and loose bunches in varieties that are sensitive during flowering.

Richter 110

V. berlandieri x V. rupestris

Vigour: very strong
Drought tolerance: good
Chlorosis resistance: medium
Active lime tolerance¹: ~ 17 %
End of growing season²: very late

The Richter 110 rootstock is particularly suitable for warm, dry sites and for slopes and steep sites with shallow, stony soils. Sites prone to waterlogging are unsuitable. Long growing cycle; in cooler years or on less favourable sites, grape and wood ripening can be considerably delayed. In the first years after planting, the rootstock tends to show weak growth above ground; it is assumed that it initially puts a lot of energy into root development. Growth only picks up noticeably after the fifth year. Depending on the soil type, it is then medium to strongly vigorous.

¹ Active lime

Active lime is the particularly reactive fraction of the lime in the soil, which can affect the availability of iron.

What is the difference between total lime and active lime?

Total lime: All the lime contained in the soil, mainly calcium carbonate (CaCO₃).
Active lime: Active lime is the particularly reactive fraction of the calcium carbonate in the soil. It affects the availability of iron to the vine and therefore its susceptibility to lime-induced chlorosis.

A soil can contain a lot of total lime without its active lime content being correspondingly high. Conversely, a soil with a low total lime content can still contain a comparatively large amount of active lime.

Why is active lime so important for the choice of rootstock?

With a high active lime content, iron may be present in the soil but poorly available to the vine. The vine can then suffer from iron deficiency even though the soil contains enough iron. This leads to lime-induced chlorosis: the leaves turn yellow while the veins initially remain green. In severe cases, growth and yield can drop considerably.

The rootstock influences how well the vine can take up and use iron under such conditions. This is why active lime tolerance is a key characteristic when choosing a rootstock.

² End of growing season

An earlier end of the growing season can favour wood maturation. A later end, on the other hand, can delay the maturation of the wood and, in some cases, the ripening of the grapes. Variety, yield, water and nutrient supply and the weather also play a decisive role.