Richter 99
| Variety Passport | |
| Country of origin: | France |
| Breeder: | Georg-Franz Richter |
| Variety number VIVC: | 10064 |
| Prime name: | Richter 99 |
| Breeding number: | 99 |
| Principal Synonyms: | 99 R, Berlandieri x Rupestris 99 Richter |
| Year of obtaining / registration: | Obtained in 1902, registered in the national registry of Italy on November 6, 2001 |
| Pedigree given by breeder: | Vitis berlandieri cv. Las Sorres × Vitis rupestris cv. Lot |
| Pedigree confirmed by markers: | Berlandieri Resseguier 2 x Rupestris du Lot |
| Rootstock type: | Phylloxera-resistant, Nematode-resistant |
| Data Sources: | Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC), INRAE (France) |
| Agrobiology | |
| Vigor: | vigorous |
| Lateral shoot formation: | strong |
| Flower type: | male |
| Active lime tolerance: | 14% |
| Drought tolerance: | resistant |
| Nematode susceptibility: | 2 points (resistant) |
| Root phylloxera susceptibility: | 1 point (highly resistant) |
| Rooting ability: | medium |
| Graft compatibility with Vitis vinifera: | high |
| Ampelographic overview |
Origin and agricultural importance
The rootstock Richter 99 was obtained by the breeder Franz Richter in 1902. This rootstock variety results from the crossbreeding between Vitis berlandieri Las Sorres and Vitis rupestris Lot. The grapevine rootstock confers a high vigor to the grafts, although the initial plant development is rather slow. It tends to delay the growth cycle of the grafts and can promote coulure. It shows a good affinity in grafts, but the risk of rejection and degeneration increases when combined with Syrah. In France, seven clones are certified: 96, 150, 162, 178, 179, 223, and 754.
Ampelographic description of the rootstock variety Richter 99
The main ampelographic features used to identify the rootstock Richter 99 are:
- Young shoot (tip): the tip of the young shoot is half open, with a low density of prostrate hairs.
- Young leaves: characterized by a red coloration.
- Herbaceous shoot: the shoots display a bushy and erect bearing. The surface is ribbed, the cross-section is circular or slightly elliptic, and the anthocyanin coloration is strong. Erect and prostrate hairs are completely absent.
- Adult leaf: small, light green, matte, kidney-shaped, asymmetric, and entire. The leaf blade is involute and twisted. The petiole sinus is open and V-shaped. A strong anthocyanin coloration of the veins is present. The teeth feature straight sides. The lower side of the leaves has no or a very low density of erect and prostrate hairs.
- Flowers and inflorescences: the flowers are male.
- Woody shoot: the woody shoots are browny grey with a striated surface.
Aptitudes for nursery practices
Wood production in mother vines is moderate, yielding between 30,000 and 40,000 meters of canes per hectare. The length of the internodes is average, and the shoot diameter is medium to large. The growth of lateral shoot buds is widespread. Cuttings demonstrate moderate rooting and grafting capacities. When selecting sites, it should be considered that the variety is sensitive to soil acidity and chloride excess. Drought resistance ranges from moderate to high. On limestone soils, it tolerates up to 14% of active limestone (with an ICP of 20). It is highly tolerant to the root form of phylloxera; resistance to Meloidogyne hapla nematodes is good, while resistance to Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne arenaria nematodes is average.