34 Ecole de Montpellier
Name of variety in France (and usual designation)
34 Ecole de Montpellier (34 EM)
Breeder/selector and year of obtention
Gustave Foëx, 1890.
Genetic origin
This variety results from the crossbreeding of Vitis berlandieri cv. Ecole and Vitis riparia.
Evolution of mother vine surfaces
1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015
Rank 23 19 23 24 27 25 25 23
ha 3 2 2 2 0.5 0.3 0.7 0.8
Estimated surface area of French vines grafted with the rootstock, and main regions of use
500 ha. Alsace, Champagne.
Descriptive elements
The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot that is half open or closed, with a medium density of prostrate hairs,
- the slightly bronzed young leaves,
- the shoots with a slightly ribbed surface, a circular or slightly elliptic section, red internodes and nodes on the dorsal side and high density of erect hairs on the nodes and internodes,
- the revolute wedge-shaped adult leaves, with a very open U-shaped petiole sinus, teeth with straight sides, a weak to moderate anthocyanin coloration of veins, and on the lower side of the leaves, a low to medium density of erect hairs, 
- the male flowers,
- the browny grey, dull woody shoots, with a high density of erect hairs on the nodes and internodes.
Genetic profile
Microsatellite VVS2 VVMD5 VVMD7 VVMD27 VRZAG62 VRZAG79 VVMD25 VVMD28 VVMD32
Allel 1 133 238 231 248 191 254 248 239 267
Allel 2 141 261 251 266 208 256 266 243 267
Resistance to soil parasites
34 EM is highly tolerant to the root form of phylloxera. Its resistance to Meloidogyne incognita nematodes is very good but is only moderate regarding to Meloidogyne arenaria nematodes.
Adaptation to the environment
34 EM resists up to 20% of "active" limestone and to an ICP of 40. Its resistance to iron chlorosis can be considered to be moderate to good.
Interaction with grafts and production objectives
34 EM influences the earliness of the growth cycle which can be interesting for the northern wine-growing region or for table grapes.
Vegetative propagation aptitudes
34 EM wood production is low to moderate (25 000 to 50 000 m/ha). 34 EM has a medium cutting capacity and a good grafting aptitude.
Resistance to aerial parasites
Its sensitivity to the gall form of phylloxera is low to moderate and it has a high resistance to downy mildew.
Clonal selection in France
In France, the 2 certified clones of 34 EM carry the numbers 1032 and 1033. Among those, the clones multiplied are:
- clone No. 1032: 40 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 1033: 40 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.