UTILIZING THE COMPLETE PHYLLOXERA RESISTANCE OF VITIS CINEREA ARNOLD IN ROOTSTOCK BREEDING

The current rootstock breeding program at Geisenheim aims for new rootstocks completely resistant to Phylloxera, with a tolerance to virus transmission via nematodes, good rooting ability, high compatibility and good adaptation even to difficult soil types and a positive effect on grape and wine quality. Therefore the varieties Borner, Vitis cinerea Arnold and other Vitis cinerea crossings were used as male parent and crossed with different female rootstock varieties like 125 AA, 5 BB, 41 B, Fercal, Georgikon, Binova, 161-49 C, and so on. The reaction of the seedlings to Phylloxera attacks has been observed. Seedlings with complete Phylloxera resistance and positive growth characteristics have been multiplied and were planted in the field to evaluate vegetative characteristics, wood maturation and wood production. Seedlings from 1992 were grafted to assess there affinity and then planted to different vineyard sites for further studies of viticultural performance.