SO 4

Sélection Oppenheim 4

This variety results from the crossbreeding of Vitis berlandieri and Vitis riparia derived from Euryale Rességuier.

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Genetic origin

The genetic origin of the variety is also indicated when known thanks to hybridiser data or genetic analysis either published or obtained by the teams at INRAE in Montpellier (UMR AGAP) and at the Vassal-Montpellier Grapevine Biological Resources Centre (CRB-Vigne).

This variety results from the crossbreeding of Vitis berlandieri and Vitis riparia derived from Euryale Rességuier.

Name of the variety in France (and usual name)

The rootstock variety is presented by the abbreviation or name under which it appears in the national catalogue and which is also the most commonly used in French grapevine nurseries and French viticulture. There is no official list of synonyms for rootstock varieties.

SO 4

Breeder\/breeder and year obtained

The name of the breeder and/or selector is indicated, as is the year in which the variety was bred.

Sigmund Teleki and Heinrich Fuhr, 1896.

Estimated surface area of the French vineyard grafted with this rootstock and main regions of use

The figures are estimated based on the computerised vineyard register and bibliographical data.

180 000 ha . SO 4 is found in all French wine-growing areas.

Evolution of cultivated areas in France

The figures provided are taken from vineyard land registers (IVCC, ONIVIT, ONIVINS), general agricultural censuses (SCEES-INSEE) and the current computerised vineyard register (DGDDI, FAM). Regional vine planting data is available on the following site: https://visionet.franceagrimer.fr/Pages/DonneesInteractivesDocs.aspx?sousmenu=observatoire%20de%20la%20viticulture.

Year
ha

1945

0.8

1955

27

1965

363

1975

821

1985

512

1995

339

2005

461

2015

370

Eléments de description ampélographique

Only the main ampelographic elements enabling the rootstocks to be characterised and identified are provided. They are described according to the ampelographic descriptor code recognised by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), the Community Plant Variety Office (OCVV) and Bioversity International (for more information, see the "Ampelographic glossary" menu). The photographs of buds, flowers and adult leaves were taken indoors by the INRAE team at Domaine de Vassal from material sampled from the ampelographic collections of the Vassal-Montpellier Grapevine Biological Resources Centre. Note: the scale of the photos is not the same for the three organs shown. The photos of buds have been reduced (x 0.5 approx.), as have those of the adult leaves (x 0.25 approx.), while those of the flowers have been enlarged (x 4 approx.).

The identification is based on:
- the tip of the young shoot that is half opened, with a piping anthocyanin coloration and a medium density of prostrate hairs,
- the bronzed young leaves,
- the elongated shoots, with a ribbed surface, a slightly elliptic section, shiny red nodes and internodes with reddish spots on the ventral side and no erect and prostrate hairs,
- the trifid tendrils,
- the large, wedge-shaped, involute, adult leaves, with an undulate leaf blade between the veins, an open U- or V-shaped petiole sinus, teeth with straight sides, a weak anthocyanin coloration of veins, and on the lower side of the leaves, a low to medium density of erect hairs,
- the male flowers,
- the dark brown woody shoots.

Genetic profile

The genetic profile of the variety is provided for the 9 microsatellite markers (or SSR markers) selected under the European programme GrapeGen06 (http://www.eu-vitis.de/index.php) and by the OIV. The absolute size values of the alleles may vary slightly from one laboratory to another, but the relative differences between the two alleles of one single microsatellite are constant. The genetic analyses were conducted by the INRAE Montpellier team (UMR AGAP) and the IFV’s Plant Material Centre.

Microsatellite VVS2 VVMD5 VVMD7 VVMD27 VRZAG62 VRZAG79 VVMD25 VVMD28 VVMD32

Allele 1

143

234

233

238

200

252

238

214

259

Allele 2

145

263

264

249

214

256

249

235

259

Resistance to soil pests

The degree of tolerance to the root form of phylloxera and resistance to nematodes (Meloidogyne hapla, Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne arenaria), to Agrobacterium vitis (the bacterium responsible for burls) and to certain soil fungi is stated on the basis of observations or bibliographical data.

SO 4 is highly tolerant to the root form of phylloxera. Its resistance to Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne arenaria nematodes is also very good. It is moderately tolerant to Meloidogyne hapla nematodes.

Aptitudes for vegetative multiplication

The level of wood production by the rootstock strains is stated (source: ENTAV-ONIVINS survey of grapevine nurseries, April 2001). The suitability for cleaning, disbudding, cutting and grafting is also specified. Further details are provided if the rootstock variety requires special precautions during grafting and layering.

SO 4 wood production is very good (60 000 to 100 000 m/ha) with sometimes however a certain proportion of dry canes. It reacts well to fertilization and irrigation but the canes lignify fairly late. This rootstock has very good cutting and grafting capacities, and is easy to clean and disbud. Its internodes have a medium size diameter and the growth of lateral shoot buds is limited. When performed, hormoning should be moderate and the duration of stratification may sometimes be longer.

Clonal selection in France

All certified clones are listed, as are the surface areas of the mother vine of clones that are propagated. For the moment, clonal selection of rootstock is conducted solely for sanitary purposes.

In France, the 24 certified SO 4 clones carry the numbers 5, 15, 18, 20, 72, 73, 74, 102, 103, 104, 106, 156, 157, 158, 159, 161, 165, 166, 174, 203, 204, 205, 761 and 762. Among those, the clones multiplied are:
- clone No. 5: 47 ha 25 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 18: 5 ha 15 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 20: 1 ha 60 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 72: 1 ha 27 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 73: 65 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 74: 82 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 102: 46 ha 33 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 104: 50 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 157: 84 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 161: 50 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 203: 22 ha 07 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 204: 89 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 205: 62 ares of mother vines producing certified material, in 2017,
- clone No. 762: 226 ha 16 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.

Adaptation to the environment

This paragraph provides information on the behaviour of the rootstock variety in relation to the structure, texture and composition of the soil, its mineral content and the soil’s pH. It also states the behaviour of the rootstock when faced with an excess or lack of water during the vegetative period. Chlorosis Iron chlorosis is related to problems of iron assimilation due to low iron content and/or high carbonate content in soil. Total calcium carbonate content alone gives only a partial idea of the chlorosis-inducing power of the soil. The active calcium carbonate content corresponds to the percentage of carbonate present in the fine fraction of the soil (clays, fine silts). Depending on the characteristics of the parent rock and its geological origin, this represents a variable percentage of the total calcium carbonate. The chlorotic power index (IPC) is a calculation which takes into account the active calcium carbonate content and the easily extractible iron content of the soil. These three values provide an insight into the risk of chlorosis and allow growers to choose the most suitable rootstock variety accordingly. Tylosis and apoplexy These apoplexy phenomena are linked to problems of water circulation through the plant when evapotranspiration is high (dry wind following heavy rainfall in the summer season) and the absorption of water through the roots is limited. In this case, the high pressure in the vessels causes air bubbles (cavitation) and tyloses (invagination of the membrane of neighbouring cells in the vessels) to form, which causes a slowing of sap circulation and water stress in the leaves.

SO 4 resists up to 35% of "total" limestone, 17% of "active" limestone and an ICP of 30. Its resistance to iron chlorosis can thus be considered as moderate. It is well suited to acidic soils and it is fairly tolerant to chlorides. SO 4 resistance to drought is moderate to high but its adaptation to humidity is low to medium. This rootstock is sometimes sensitive to tylosis. SO 4 poorly absorbs magnesium and promotes the dessication of the stems. It is well suited to sandy soils (provided that the magnesium deficiency is corrected), plains terroirs and clay-limestone soils that are moderately or not very fertile. However, it does not seems adapted to very dry terroirs, that induce chlorosis as well as too compact soils.

Interaction with the graft and production objectives

The rootstock may interact with the characteristics of the graft in terms of precocity of the vegetative cycle and the growth and development of the branches, as well as yield factors (fertility and berry size). In some cases, the risks of incompatibility or poor affinity of the rootstock variety with a graft variety are specified.

Generally speaking, SO 4 is quite compatible with grafts but the radial trunk growth is very limited. It is said that this rootstock has a “thin leg” which may create substantial diameter differences with the grafts and the recquirement for trellising. The growth speed of plants grafted onto SO 4 is very high and the vigor confered to the grafts by this rootstock is strong, particularly during the first part of the vine’s life (the first 15 years). The varieties grafted onto SO 4 produce high yields, starting from the first years after planting which sometimes requires thinning. SO 4 induces good sugar content in the fruits, the wines obtained often lack body and sometimes have herbaceous notes due to the high yields. SO 4 also promotes wines with high pH levels.

Bibliographic references

The rootstock may interact with the characteristics of the graft in terms of precocity of the vegetative cycle and the growth and development of the branches, as well as yield factors (fertility and berry size). In some cases, the risks of incompatibility or poor affinity of the rootstock variety with a graft variety are specified.

- 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.