1103 Paulsen
Name of variety in France (and usual designation)
1103 Paulsen (1103 P)
Breeder/selector and year of obtention
Federico Paulsen, 1896.
Genetic origin
This variety results from the crossbreeding of Vitis berlandieri cv. Rességuier number 2 and Vitis rupestris cv. Lot.
Evolution of mother vine surfaces
1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015
Rank 11 9 7 7 7 9
ha 114 239 104 69 113 82
Estimated surface area of French vines grafted with the rootstock, and main regions of use
9 000 ha. Charentes, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Corsica, Aquitaine.
Descriptive elements
The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot that is half opened, with a low density of prostrate hairs,
- the slightly bronzed young leaves,
- the shoots with a bushy and horizontal bearing, a ribbed surface, red internodes on the dorsal side and green on the ventral side, no prostrate hairs and a low density of erect hairs on the nodes, 
- the fairly developed tendrils,
- the small to medium, wides, kidney-shaped, involute, twisted, and entire adult leaves, with an open petiole sinus, with naked petiole veins, a weak anthocyanin coloration of vein near the petiole sinus, short to medium length teeth compared to their width, a mate, rather light leaf blade, and on the lower side of the leaves, a low density of erect hairs and no or a very low density of prostrate hairs,
- the male flowers.
Genetic profile
Microsatellite VVS2 VVMD5 VVMD7 VVMD27 VRZAG62 VRZAG79 VVMD25 VVMD28 VVMD32
Allel 1 135 234 233 236 196 252 236 241 259
Allel 2 145 234 257 249 214 264 249 251 259
Resistance to soil parasites
1103 P is highly tolerant to the root form of phylloxera. On the other hand, its resistance to Meloidogyne incognita nematodes is moderate and it is sensitive to Meloidogyne arenaria nematodes.
Adaptation to the environment
1103 P resists up to 30% of "total" limestone, 17% of "active" limestone and an ICP of 30. Its resistance to iron chlorosis is moderate. It is well adapted to drought conditions along with compact soils and a possible significant temporary spring humidity. 1103 P absorbs well magnesium. In addition, it is well suited to acidic soil and has a fairly good tolerance to chlorides.
Interaction with grafts and production objectives
1103 P confers a high vigor and tends to produce suckers. This rootstock works well with Syrah, but some affinity problems have been noticed with Tempranillo.
Vegetative propagation aptitudes
1103 P wood production is low to medium (25 000 to 60 000 m/ha), with a certain proportion that can not be easily used (twisted or broken canes). The growth of lateral shoot buds is high, which contributes to the presence of tendrils, and makes this rootstock canes difficult to clean and disbud. 1103 P has a moderate cutting capacity and a very good grafting aptitude.
Resistance to aerial parasites
1103 P is moderately susceptible to the gall form of phylloxera and is highly resistant to downy mildew.
Clonal selection in France
In France, the 7 certified 1103 P clones carry the numbers 112, 113, 168, 202, 767, 768 and 1050. Among those, the clones multiplied are:
- clone No. 113: 26 ha 90 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 168: 51 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 767: 1 ha 28 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 768: 52 ha 43 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 1050: 2 ha 54 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017.

Datas are extracted from: Les chiffres de la pépinière viticole, 2017, Datas and assesment of FranceAgriMer, may 2018.
Bibliographic references
- Catalogue des variétés et clones de vigne cultivés en France. Collectif, 2007, Ed. IFV, Le Grau-du-Roi, France.
- Documentary collections of the Centre de Ressources Biologiques de la Vigne de Vassal-Montpellier, INRAE - Montpellier SupAgro, Marseillan, France.
- Cépages et vignobles de France, tome 1. P. Galet, 1988, Ed. Dehan, Montpellier, France.