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New rootstocks Vinto and Libero officially approved  

After the end of the Second World War, rootstock breeding in Germany came to a complete standstill. It was not until 1992 that the Institute for Vine Breeding at Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences resumed the breeding of new rootstock varieties. This marked the revival of rootstock breeding in Germany.

In view of the increasing problem of phylloxera, the use of a relatively small number of rootstock varieties was increasingly seen as problematic in both German and international viticulture. With a few exceptions, most of these rootstocks come from only three wild species: Vitis berlandieri, Vitis riparia and Vitis rupestris.

The central consideration was that it will be crucial in the future to develop rootstock material with a broader genetic background. In view of the fluctuations in the population dynamics of phylloxera and other vine-growing pests caused by environmental changes, it is essential to use rootstocks with more diverse resistance properties, higher adaptability and better soil adaptation capabilities.

In August 2024, the new rootstock varieties Vinto and Libero, bred at Geisenheim University, were added to the German variety list. These varieties are the result of many years of research and have been specially developed to counter the increasing threat of phylloxera, climate change and challenging soil conditions. With different growth types, both varieties offer vine phylloxera resistance, lime resistance and drought stress tolerance. While Vinto impresses with strong growth, Libero represents a weaker growing alternative.

Vinto

The Vinto rootstock owes its increased lime tolerance to the genetic makeup of its mother variety, Berlandieri Rességuier #1. It inherited its excellent resistance to phylloxera on the leaves and roots from its father, Börner.

In long-term adaptation trials, the phylloxera-resistant rootstock variety Vinto has proven to be equal to most other common rootstocks such as SO 4, 125 AA, 5 BB, Börner or 5 C Geisenheim in terms of its viticultural characteristics.

At different locations, some with widely varying soil conditions, it always produces the best results in terms of yield stability, must weight performance and must composition. It performs very well particularly in steep slope viticulture with conditions such as water stress and poor humus.

On calcareous sites, Vinto can easily keep up with well-known rootstock varieties that are more resistant to lime, such as SO4 or Fercal, and thus proves to be a more than worthy phylloxera-resistant successor to its parent variety Börner – with the added advantage of greater lime resistance and almost the same drought tolerance.

As a wood producer in the orchard, it shows strong growth with low side shoot growth. In the vineyard, depending on the soil conditions, it gives the scion medium to strong growth, somewhere between SO4 and 125 AA.

Characteristics:

  • Interbreeding: Berlandieri Rességuier #1 × Börner
  • Drought tolerance: good
  • Chlorosis resistance: good
  • Active lime tolerance: ca. 20 %
  • Vigour: medium to strong
  • Rooting: good to very good
  • Vegetation: medium to late
  • Grafting affinity: good

Libero

As with Vinto, the resistance to phylloxera was conferred by the Börner father variety. The Kober 125 AA mother variety is characterised by good viticultural properties, high vigour, broad adaptability and a good affinity with most of the yielding vine varieties. Despite the vigorous growth of its parents (125 AA and Börner), Libero has a somewhat weaker, medium-strong growth, which can be placed between the rootstocks 161-49 C and SO 4.

Libero, which is resistant to grape phylloxera, has proven itself in long-term adaptation trials at a wide variety of locations to be equivalent to the common rootstocks such as SO 4, 125 AA, Börner, 5 C Geisenheim, 3309 C and 161-49 C. It impresses with its yield stability, must weight performance and must composition even under difficult soil conditions.

Libero also performs well in calcareous locations and has moderate to good drought tolerance. In the production vineyard, it gives the noble varieties moderate to moderate growth, depending on the soil conditions.

Characteristics:

  • Interbreeding: Kober 125 AA × Börner
  • Drought tolerance: good
  • Chlorosis resistance: good
  • active lime tolerance: 18–20 %
  • vigour: medium-strong
  • rooting: good
  • vegetation: medium-early to early
  • grafting affinity: good

Source: Hochschule Geisenheim University, Institut für Rebenzüchtung

We are currently setting up parent gardens of the new rootstock varieties and plan to graft the first vines onto the new rootstocks in 2025.