Grapevine Planting Stock
Types of Grapevine Planting Stock
Traditionally, vineyards have been planted with dormant benchgrafts, but growers have several other options including rooted cuttings, green benchgrafts, and dormant benchgrafts.
Rooted Cuttings
Rooted cuttings are dormant, bare-rooted vines produced by rooting a cutting (a cane section about 12–16in, 30–4cm) taken from nursery mother vines in the fall. When cuttings are made, they are often cut flat on the bottom (perpendicular to the long axis of the cutting) and angled at the top to prevent inadvertent inversion of the cuttings later in the propagation process. Cuttings are disbudded except for the top bud to discourage roots that would otherwise originate from those shallower node positions. Only roots from the basal end of the cuttings are desired; if roots do arise from these upper positions, they are removed during trimming.
Green Benchgrafts
Green benchgrafts are usually grafted using dormant rootstock and scion cuttings. A benchgraft is made by joining a dormant, disbudded rootstock cutting and a one-bud scion. Ideally, the stock and scion should be the same diameter. Grafted units are placed in a callusing room (warm, humid conditions) to encourage root initiation and graft union healing, after which vines are removed and planted in open-bottomed sleeves or pots and placed in a greenhouse for growth under controlled conditions (See Figure 6.1).
Dormant Potted Vines
Dormant potted vines are usually benchgrafted using dormant rootstock and scion cuttings, and grown in containers (plastic pots or paper sleeves) for a season rather than in the field.
Rootstock Propagation Success
Rootstocks differ significantly in their ability to propagate successfully. Winegrape rootstock propagation success varies significantly by variety, influenced by factors such as genetics (e.g., Vitis riparia roots easily; V. berlandieri struggles), hormone treatments (e.g., IBA), cutting quality (maturity, vigor), and propagation method (hardwood, bench grafting, tissue culture). Some, like SO4, 99R, Dog Ridge, root well with specific auxin levels, while others, like 420A, are difficult to benchgraft but root via field budding, needing careful technique to ensure roots form before buds sprout.
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