106-8
| Variety Passport | |
| Country of origin: | France |
| Breeder: | Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet, Charles de Grasset |
| Variety number VIVC: | 7749 |
| Prime name: | Millardet et Grasset 106- 8 |
| Breeding number: | 106-8 |
| Principal Synonyms: | 106-8 Millardet de Grasset, 106-8 MGT, Riparia X (Cordifolia-Rupestris) 106.8 |
| Year of obtaining / registration: | created in 1882, introduced in 1899 |
| Pedigree given by breeder: | crossbreeding of Vitis riparia with the Cordifolia × Rupestris de Grasset form |
| Pedigree confirmed by markers: | Vitis Riparia Michaux x Cordifolia Rupestris de Grasset 1 |
| Rootstock type: | Phylloxera-resistant |
| Data Sources: | Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC), Ampélographie. Traité général de viticulture (1901–1910) |
| Agrobiology | |
| Vigor: | very vigorous |
| Lateral shoot formation: | weak |
| Flower type: | female |
| Active lime tolerance: | 10-12% |
| Drought tolerance: | resistant |
| Root phylloxera susceptibility: | 0 points (immune) |
| Rooting ability: | high |
| Graft compatibility with Vitis vinifera: | high |
| Recommended soil types: | Compact, dry, yet sufficiently deep and fertile soils |
| Ampelographic overview |
Origin and economic importance
The rootstock variety Riparia × Cordifolia × Rupestris 106-8 was created by the prominent French breeders Alexis Millardet and Charles de Grasset in 1882; however, it was introduced to the public by the authors only in 1899. This complex ternary hybrid form resulted from crossing Vitis riparia with the Cordifolia × Rupestris de Grasset rootstock. The economic value of this vine was most clearly highlighted during practical trials conducted by Mr. P. Bérard on the reconstitution of vineyards in the dry and compact soils of the Bône province in Algeria. In this specific region, the rootstock proved to be the most successful in terms of adaptation and performance.
The variety 106-8 is characterized by very high growth vigor and develops a powerful trunk less bushy in habit. The vine exhibits extremely high tolerance to the root form of phylloxera. Contrary to Millardet's initial assumptions, this rootstock proved to be highly sensitive to the presence of limestone in the soil: it is prone to iron chlorosis and yellows easily in soils containing more than 10% to 12% of chalky limestone. Experts recommend reserving this variety primarily for hot and dry viticultural regions (South of France, Algeria, Spain) exclusively on compact, dry, but sufficiently deep and fertile lands, where its performance appears superior to most other known rootstocks.
When grafted, the 106-8 rootstock demonstrates excellent affinity and high compatibility with most European grapevine varieties, forming a very powerful trunk. It exerts a positive influence on the productivity of the scion, ensuring stable and quality fruit ripening on highly fruitful grafted vines.
Ampelographic description of the rootstock variety 106-8
The identification of Riparia × Cordifolia × Rupestris 106-8 is based on the following morphological characteristics:
- Vine and trunk: Highly vigorous vine with a very thick trunk and a semi-erect growth habit. The bark detaches in narrow, adherent strips and features a reddish-brown coloration.
- Shoots: Main canes are long, thick, straight, cylindrical, and show very low ramification (weak lateral shoot formation). The surface of the shoots is finely striated. The nodes are slightly swollen. In the herbaceous (green) stage, the shoots are pinkish-green, and upon full wood maturity, they acquire a rich chestnut-brown color. The internodes are of medium length. The structure of the diaphragm is plano-concave. The tendrils are discontinuous, long, and bi- or trifurcated at the ends.
- Adult leaf: Leaves are of medium size, longer than they are wide, with morphological characteristics clearly dominated by Vitis riparia. The leaf blade is entire and orbicular-pentagonal in shape. The lobes are barely outlined, indicated only by a prolongation of the terminal tooth, which is most pronounced on the apical lobe. The petiole sinus is moderately deep and distinctly V-shaped. The leaf blade is thick, regularly blistered (waffled) between the large veins, dark green and glossy on the upper surface, and lighter green and matte on the lower surface. The lower side features prominent, robust veins, with short and rather dense hairs located along the main veins. The marginal teeth are arranged in two distinct series, well-delineated but shallow. The petiole is of medium length, channeled, and displays a violaceous-pink coloration.
- Berries and clusters: The variety forms small clusters with a small number of berries. The berries are small, spherical, reddish-violaceous in color, and covered with a thick, heavy pruinose bloom. The berries are attached to small, violaceous pedicels. The seed morphology is identical to that of Vitis riparia.
Nursery management attributes
The variety 106-8 demonstrates high technological performance attributes under nursery conditions. Due to the straight growth habit of the canes and weak lateral shoot production, the collection and manual cleaning of cuttings in mother vineyards are significantly facilitated. Cuttings possess a very high regenerative capacity, demonstrating excellent independent rooting traits and a high output percentage of standard saplings during bench or field grafting operations.