About
PlantGrape was originally one of various case studies on the Pl@ntNet platform, which was set up in 2009 by Agropolis Fondation to support agronomic research and sustainable development.
The INRAE Centre in Montpellier conducts research on grapevines and wine in three different areas of activity: agriculture, food and environment. It covers a broad range of subjects ranging from genetics to wine regions. The research on the genetic resources of grapevines involves two units: the Grapevine Diversity, Adaptation and Improvement research team (DAAV) at the UMR (joint research unit) AGAP, and the Domaine de Vassal Experimental Unit located at Marseillan-Plage, which houses the Grapevine Biological Resources Centre (CRB-Vigne), the institute’s central ampelographic collection.
Through the intermediary of the National Plant Material Centre located in Le Grau-du-Roi (French department of Gard), the IFV is a grapevine selection establishment. It coordinates projects of varietal and clone selection and conservation conducted throughout the country thanks to close collaboration with grapevine selection partners based in France. At Domaine de l’Espiguette, the National Plant Material Centre is also in charge of conservation of the varieties listed in the official catalogue (more than 400) as well as of certified clones (over 1,100).
L’Institut Agro, the new national higher education institute for agriculture, food and environment, was created on the 1st January 2020 through the merging of Montpellier SupAgro and AgroCampus Ouest, to support the agroecological transition of agriculture. Within Montpellier SupAgro, the internal school of this new entity, the IHEV, Institute of Higher Studies in Grapevines and Wine provides all the winegrowing training programmes, including the option of agronomist in viticulture and oenology. The IHEV thus provides a permanent link between training, research and the professionals of the sector.
These are the regional partners involved in selection. Including chambers of agriculture, interprofessional bodies, associations and Sicarex (regional viticultural research bodies), they are 36 in number, spread across all the winegrowing areas and closely involved in projects of varietal and clone selection, and inter- and intra-varietal diversity conservation. Together, they form the CTNSP national technical commission for selection and participation. These partners play an essential role in maintaining and promoting our viticultural heritage. Thanks to their collaboration, the rarest varieties are preserved.
The UMT Geno-Vigne®, certified since August 2008, combines the IFV, INRAE and l’Institut Agro | Montpellier SupAgro. The objective of Geno-Vigne® is to manage, conserve, characterise and promote the genetic resources of grapevines for the benefit of the wine sector. INRAE’s collections at Domaine de Vassal and those of IFV at Domaine de l’Espiguette constitute a unique worldwide support, for its research and development work, which includes training and communication.
A project centered on the vine
Pl@ntGrape was originally one of various case studies on the Pl@ntNet platform (plantnet.org), which was set up in 2009 by Agropolis Fondation (https://www.agropolis-fondation.fr/) to support agronomic research and sustainable development. Focusing on vines, the project was originally led by UMT Géno-Vigne® (UMT standing for “joint technology unit”), using the combined expertise of IFV (the French Vine and Wine Institute), INRAE (the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment) and Institut Agro | Montpellier. It conducted research into grapevine genetic resources and information technologies.
The objective of Pl@ntGrape is to provide access to synthetic, validated and updates information on the grapevine varieties, rootstocks and clones used in France and, more generally, in Europe and worldwide. It is aimed at anyone searching for information on grapevines as plant material: winegrowers, plant nursery owners, technicians, researchers, students, amateurs , etc.
The starting point for the website content was the second edition of the Catalogue des variétés et clones de vigne cultivés en France (Catalogue of grapevine varieties and clones cultivated in France), published in 2007 (by IFV). Further information and new varieties and clones records are added regularly as new varieties are officially listed by the Ministry of Agriculture and clones are certified by FranceAgriMer. The site also has links to varieties records that have been classified, but not listed in the official Catalogue.
