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Rootstock Guide

Every year we receive numerous enquiries about the suitability of rootstock for a particular vineyard.

Below is a rootstock guide courtesy of Phil Nicholas of SARDI.
Also, Wine Australia now has a free Grapevine Rootstock Selector Tool available at www.grapevinerootstock.com so growers can pick the best rootstocks that will suit their individual vineyard.

Please contact us if you require further information.

You may find GWRDC Rootstock Factsheet also useful.













A 101-14 M-L  Short Good Moderate Poor Good   Poor Poor Moderate
Schwarzmann M-L Short Good Moderate Poor Moderate Poor Poor Poor
3309 M-L Medium Poor Moderate Poor Poor Good Poor Moderate
B SO4 M Medium Moderate Good Poor Poor Poor Poor Moderate
5C Teleki M Medium Moderate Good Poor Poor Unknown Poor Poor  
5BB Kober M-H Medium Moderate Good Poor Poor Unknown Moderate Poor  
C 110 Richter M Very long Moderate Good Moderate Moderate Poor Good   Moderate
1103 Paulsen M-H Long Moderate  Good Moderate Good Good Good Moderate
99 Richter M-H Medium Moderate Good Moderate Moderate Poor Moderate Poor
140 Ruggen H-M Very Long Unknown Good Good Good Good Good Poor
D K51-32 M-H Long Good Moderate Unknown Moderate Unknown Good   Unknown
K51-40 M-H   Long Good Moderate Unknown Poor Unknown Poor Unknown
E Ramsey H-M Very Long Good Moderate Moderate Good Unknown Good Poor

Additional Information

Phylloxera The above rootstocks generally have high resistance to phylloxera but K51-40 has not been tested.
Groups A = V. riparia x V rupestris crosses, B= V. berlandieri x V. riperia crosses, C=V. berlandieri x V. rupestris crosses, D= V. champini x V. riparia crosses and E= V. champini.
Rootstock Older SO4 plantings are now identified as 5C Teleki and older 5A Teleki plantings identified as 5BB Kober.
Scion vigour Given as a guide only. Vigour of rootstock varies in different environments.
Vegetative cycle Indicates comparative length of growing season, which affects time of scion wood maturity and may influence time of grape maturity.
Nematodes Refers to root-knot nematode resistance. Nematode populations of the same species can vary in aggressiveness in different regions. Also populations can develop in a vineyard and gradually overcome resistance.
Lime Group A only tolerates about 10% active lime. 140 Ruggen has higher tolerance than others in groups B and C.
Acid soil Choice may change if lime is applied prior to planting. More local trial data is required to better define suitability.
Salinity Indicated performance in saline soil. Interaction with drought is not considered here. Rootstocks susceptible to drought may have higher salt uptake in drought situations.
Magnesium uptake Low magnesium uptake by some rootstocks, especially SO4, in some soils may cause bunch stem necrosis, particularly with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Drought Group B is slightly more tolerant than Group A
Waterlogging Refers to spring waterlogging of vines several years old. Some rootstocks, eg 101-14 may be susceptible to waterlogging in early years, but more tolerant in later years.
Compatibility Incompatibility is rare, but rootstocks 3309, 101-14 and 5BB Kober are more susceptible than others to compatibility problems, particularly where scion wood contains virus. Ramsey is incompatible with Muscat Gordo.

Information courtesy of Phil Nicholas SARDI SA