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Updated knowledge of the vine rootstocks

M. Bornice, G. Ferroni, G. Scalabrelli
Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80, 56124 Pisa, mar-
cello.bornice@for.unipi.it

For some time, the use of rootstocks in viticulture is no longer considered only as a means of agronomic method to 
avoid the phylloxera damages (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Fitch, 1856), but as a tool to be able to influence the physiology 
of the cultivars and to adapt the vine’s behavior to the different soil conditions, the climatic characteristics and the cul-
tivation techniques (Ferroni and Scalabrelli, 1995; Intrieri et al., 1999; Di Collalto et al., 2001; Scalabrelli et al., 2001). 
In particular, it is increased the need to use the rootstock as a means to control the physiological processes of the plant, 
being the root activity closely related to that of the canopy, by exchanging signals and metabolites.

The selection of the vine rootstocks started at the end of 1800, originated the main part of the rootstocks currently 
used in viticulture, using V. riparia and V. berlandieri. Subsequently, through the use of other genotypes were obtained 
new hybrids even more complex. Currently, in Italy there are 39 varieties of vine rootstock recognized on the National 
Register of Grapevine Varieties (agg. DM 23/03/2012, rev. 24/07/2012, http://catalogoviti.politicheagricole.it/catalogo.
php) but are essentially five, those used on large surfaces: Kober 5BB, SO4, 140 Ru, 1103 P, 110 R (Bavaresco, 1998).

In the past, for the diffusion has had an important role the need for nurserymen, who tended to favor rootstocks with 
excellent performance in propagation. While today there is a greater interest to satisfy the needs of viticulture’s tech-
niques also as a consequence of the changed cultivations’ conditions. In fact, we need of new rootstocks able to adapt to 
environmental stresses caused by climate change in progress (mainly droughts and changes in the distribution of rainfall) 
and/or linked to new growing environments which have restricting factors for the vines. Moreover, the need to obtain 
specific qualitative characteristics (polyphenols content, grapes’ acidity, etc..), suggest to deepen even more the aspects 
that can influence the wine quality. At the same time, it is necessary to reduce the period of selection (a new rootstock 
from crossing takes between 20 to 25 years), which through the use of molecular markers could also be reduced by half.

In this paper we provided an overview about the behavior of some rootstocks tested in Tuscany during the last years. 
In particular, the survey covered the vigor, the productivity, and the characteristics of grapes at maturity, including the 
phenolic content. The rootstocks considered were: 420A, Kober 5BB, SO4, 161-49, 140 Ru, 1103P, 110R, 779P, 775P, 
3309C, 101.14, Fercal, Gravesac and 41B (Scalabrelli et al., 2003). 

References

BAVARESCO L., 1998 - Scelta del portinnesto in viticoltura. - L’Informatore Agrario, 38: 53-59.

DI COLLALTO G., SCALABRELLI G., FERRONI G., 2001 - Osservazioni preliminari sull’attività vegeto-produttiva del “Sangio-
vese” innestato su tredici portinnesti nella zona di produzione del “Morellino di Scansano”. - In: ARSIA. Il Sangiovese, Atti del 

Simposio internazionale, Firenze, 15-17 February, 2000, ARSIA, Regione Toscana, pp. 259-264.

FERRONI G., SCALABRELLI G., 1995 - Effect of rootstock on vegetative activity and yield in grapevine. - Acta Horticulturae, 388: 

37-42.

FREGONI C., 2012 - Il portinnesto ideale. - VQ in vigneto, 5: 24-26.

INTRIERI C., SILVESTRONI O., VESPIGNANI G., FILIPPETTI I., 1999 - Indagini poliennali sull’impiego dei portinnesti diversi 
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SCALABRELLI G., FERRONI G., D’ONOFRIO C. DI COLLALTO G., VENERINI F., 2003 - Trials with ‘Sangiovese’ grafted on 
several grapevine rootstocks in two different areas of Tuscany. - Acta Horticulturae, 617: 73-83.

SCALABRELLI G., LORETI F., PISANI P.L., BANDINELLI R., PORCINAI S., 2001 - Comportamento bio-agronomico del “San-
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Adv. Hort. Sci., 2013 27(3): 104