Rupestris du Lot
Name of variety in France (and usual designation)

Rupestris du Lot
Breeder/selector and year of obtention

This root stock was initially noticed by R. Sijas at Montferrier-sur-Lez near Montpellier, and was then studied by Alexis Millardet who name it, 1879.
Genetic origin

This is a Vitis rupestris Scheele selection.
Evolution of mother vine surfaces

1945 | 1955 | 1965 | 1975 | 1985 | 1995 | 2005 | 2015 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 20 | 17 |
ha | 529 | 981 | 917 | 423 | 81 | 14 | 7 | 12 |
Estimated surface area of French vines grafted with the rootstock, and main regions of use

25 000 ha. Midi-Pyrénées, Charentes, Rhône-Alpes, Aquitaine, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Corse, Languedoc-Roussillon, Val de Loire.
Descriptive elements

The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot that is closed, with no erect and prostrate hairs,
- the shiny reddish young leaves, with no erect and prostrate hairs,
- the shoots with a bushy and erect bearing, a smooth, purple and uniform surface, no erect and prostrate hairs,
- the short tendrils, with a strong anthocyanin coloration,
- the small, kidney-shaped, entire adult leaves, with an open petiole sinus, a strong anthocyanin coloration of veins, medium length teeth compared to their width with straight sides, a smooth leaf blade, gutter-folded towards the upper side of the blade, and on the lower side of the leaves, no erect and prostrate hairs,
- the male flowers,
- the purplish brown, short and ramified woody shoots, with no erect and prostrate hairs.
- the tip of the young shoot that is closed, with no erect and prostrate hairs,
- the shiny reddish young leaves, with no erect and prostrate hairs,
- the shoots with a bushy and erect bearing, a smooth, purple and uniform surface, no erect and prostrate hairs,
- the short tendrils, with a strong anthocyanin coloration,
- the small, kidney-shaped, entire adult leaves, with an open petiole sinus, a strong anthocyanin coloration of veins, medium length teeth compared to their width with straight sides, a smooth leaf blade, gutter-folded towards the upper side of the blade, and on the lower side of the leaves, no erect and prostrate hairs,
- the male flowers,
- the purplish brown, short and ramified woody shoots, with no erect and prostrate hairs.
Genetic profile

Microsatellite | VVS2 | VVMD5 | VVMD7 | VVMD27 | VRZAG62 | VRZAG79 | VVMD25 | VVMD28 | VVMD32 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allel 1 | 135 | 234 | 257 | 236 | 196 | 260 | 236 | 218 | 234 |
Allel 2 | 135 | 265 | 260 | 236 | 196 | 264 | 236 | 241 | 236 |
Resistance to soil parasites

This rootstock is fairly tolerant to the root form of phylloxera, but is sensitive to Meloidogyne arenaria and Meloidogyne incognita nematodes. It is quite tolerant to Meloidogyne hapla nematodes, Phytophthora cinnamomi and Agrobacterium vitis.
Adaptation to the environment

Rupestris du Lot resists up to 25% of "total" limestone, 14% of "active" limestone and to an ICP of 20. Its resistance to drought is moderate and its use should be avoided in too compact soils. This rootstock is slightly tolerant to chlorides and absorbs potassium fairly well. Rupestris du Lot is well adapted to poor and with no or very little limestone soils.
Interaction with grafts and production objectives

Rupestris du Lot easily grows suckers, but it usually has a good affinity with grafts. It works especially well with Grenache and Ugni blanc. This rootstock confers a high vigor and induces considerable vegetative growth. Rupestris du Lot tends to delay the growth cycle and the risk of coulure with some susceptible varieties may increase.
Vegetative propagation aptitudes

Rupestris du Lot has short internodes with small to moderate diameter. The canes are hard and the growth of lateral shoot buds is widespread. Rupestris du Lot wood production is low (20 000 to 40 000 m/ha) but this rootstock has good cuttings rooting and grafting capacities.
Resistance to aerial parasites

This rootstock is very sensitive to the gall form of phylloxera. It is also sensitive to anthracnose but is highly resistant to downy mildew.
Clonal selection in France

In France, the 6 certified Rupestris du Lot clones carry the numbers 110, 213, 214, 235, 750 and 751. Among those, the clones multiplied are:
- clone No. 110: 3 ha 13 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 235: 9 ha 17 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.
- clone No. 110: 3 ha 13 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 235: 9 ha 17 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.
- 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.