Agronomic behavior of grape rootstocks resistant to young vine decline in Santa Catarina State, Brazil

¹ Epagri, Videira Experiment Station, C.P. 21, 89560-000 Videira, SC, Brazil
² Embrapa Products and Market, C.P. 317, 89460-000 Canoinhas, SC, Brazil

^a Corresponding author: dalbo@epagri.sc.gov.br

Abstract

Young vine decline, caused by the ground pearl or margarodes (Eurhizococcus brasiliensis) and pathogenic fungi (Cylindrocarpon, Phaeoacremonium and others), is a major problem in many vineyards of Southern Brazil. According to previous studies, the most resistant roostocks were hybrids of tropical species, such as Vitis caribaea (IAC 572, IAC 571-6, IAC 766) and V. cinerea (IAC 313). A medium resistance level was observed in V. champinii (Dog Ridge) and Muscadinia rotundifolia hybrids (VR 043-43). However, these rootstocks have not being used in grape growing areas of Southern Brazil. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of the scion cultivar Moscato Embrapa grafted on these rootstocks compared to Paulsen 1103 and R99, considered standards for this region. The tropical rootstocks IAC 313, IAC571-6, and IAC 766 induced earlier bud break compared to Paulsen 1103, the opposite of VR043-43 and Dog Ridge. In general aspects, all rootstocks tested can be used for grape production. Even the tropical rootstocks with no winter dormancy behave as normal rootstocks when grafted. IAC 572 has an advantage of not inducing early bud break. However, excessive vigor is the most limiting factor for IAC 572, requiring especial management practices to control vegetative development.