Mr. Blanchard

Mr. Blanchard was a French viticulturist, researcher, and breeder of the late 19th century whose practical work was concentrated in the Charente region (the Cognac production zone of France). Blanchard's activities coincided with the large-scale reconstruction of European vineyards devastated by the phylloxera epidemic, which predetermined the direction of his research in the field of rootstock viticulture.

Breeding Program and Methodology

Blanchard's primary objective was to select and breed new phylloxera-resistant rootstock vines capable of developing successfully under the specific soil and climatic conditions of France—particularly in dense soils with a high content of active lime, which caused severe lime-induced chlorosis in imported American species.

Combinations of wild American species of the genus Vitis and high-quality European cultivars of the species Vitis vinifera were utilized as the genetic basis for creating the hybrids. This approach made it possible to combine the high resistance of the American vine's root system to the root form of the pest with lime tolerance and good affinity (agrobiological compatibility) on the part of the European scion.

Breeding Achievements and Rootstock Fund

The most significant result of Blanchard's work (subsequently continued by the ampelographer Jean-Louis Vidal) was the isolation of hybrid forms that served as the foundation for creating modern commercial rootstocks:

• Blanchard Hybrid Group (B.C. No. 1, B.C. No. 2): The initial forms were obtained between 1891 and 1894 as a result of interspecific hybridization of the American clone Vitis berlandieri Lafont No. 9 with the French wine grape cultivar Vitis vinifera cv. Ugni blanc. The resulting seedlings entered international ampelographic registries under the abbreviation B.C. (Berlandieri-Colombard), as the participation of the Colombard cultivar was initially assumed. However, modern genetic microsatellite DNA analysis performed using 20 markers completely disproved the parentage of Colombard, establishing the true paternal parent as Ugni blanc (known as Trebbiano Toscano in Italian nomenclature).
• Form B.C. No. 1B and the Breeding of the Fercal Rootstock: The hybrid form Blanchard 1B (serving as the maternal parent), isolated from this breeding fund, was utilized by French state institutes (INRA) for further selection. From its subsequent cross with the rootstock 31 Richter, the famous French rootstock Fercal was obtained, which possesses record resistance to factors causing lime-induced chlorosis (tolerating up to 40% active lime on the Galet scale).
• Blanchard 2 (B.C. No. 2): An independent complex hybrid rootstock (V. berlandieri Lafont No. 9 х Ugni blanc), officially included in the Official Catalogue of Vine Varieties in France. It is characterized by high phylloxera resistance and adaptation to heavy, dry calcareous soils.

Scientific Significance

Blanchard's experience experimentally demonstrated that involving European cultivated varieties in direct crosses with American species donating resistance allows for the acquisition of plastic rootstocks with a high level of adaptation to complex soil horizons. The genetic lines isolated by him are still utilized today in the breeding programs of European research institutes when modeling grapevine responses to climate change.