Taylor Narbonne
| Variety Passport | |
| Country of origin: | France |
| Variety number VIVC: | 15154 |
| Prime name: | Taylor Narbonne |
| Year of obtaining / registration: | 1880 |
| Pedigree given by breeder: | Rupestris × Monticola × Labrusca |
| Pedigree confirmed by markers: | Vitis Labrusca Linne x (Riparia x Monticola) |
| Rootstock type: | Lime-tolerant |
| Data Sources: | Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC), Ampélographie. Traité général de viticulture (1901–1910) |
| Agrobiology | |
| Flower type: | male |
| Active lime tolerance: | 15-18% |
| Drought tolerance: | sensitive |
| Root phylloxera susceptibility: | 3 points (low resistance) |
| Rooting ability: | high |
| Graft compatibility with Vitis vinifera: | high |
| Recommended soil types: | Good, reasonably calcareous, and cool soils. Not recommended for shallow, poor, and dry soils. |
| Ampelographic overview |
Origin and Economic Significance
The grape rootstock Taylor Narbonne is a form obtained in France from the sowing of seeds of the Taylor variety by the breeder Narbonne. Subsequently, this Taylor Narbonne rootstock variety was studied in detail and received its ampelographic naming due to the researcher L. Despetis. Based on the analysis of morphological characteristics and external appearance, without direct proof, the form is classified as a natural triple interspecific hybrid of Rupestris-Monticola-Labrusca. The presence of Vitis monticola traits is hypothetically supported by its ability to adapt to a certain amount of carbonates in the soil.
In practical terms, the Taylor Narbonne grape rootstock demonstrates high development potential and economic value exclusively when cultivated on deep, fertile, cool (well-moistened), and reasonably calcareous soils. Under these conditions, it could have established a firm position in commercial viticulture; however, it lost priority to more technologically advanced and resistant hybrid combinations of the Riparia-Rupestris group.
The main disadvantage limiting the distribution of the rootstock is its unsatisfactory phylloxera resistance. When planted on shallow, poor, and dry soils, the Taylor Narbonne rootstock variety suffers severe suppression of vegetative mass under the influence of root phylloxera. The pest causes the formation of large, deeply penetrating tuberosities (galls) in the root tissues, which leads to a rapid depressive state and the death of the underground structure of the vine.
Morphological Description of the Taylor Narbonne Rootstock Variety
- Vine: Very vigorous, characterized by high growth power and the formation of a massive, thick trunk.
- Shoots: Long, with a tendency toward some thinning in the upper tiers of growth.
- Leaves: Large, deeply three-lobed in shape, with five-lobed blades occurring in individual cases. In general structure, they resemble the leaves of the Colorado group forms but surpass them in overall dimensions and the intensity of corrugation.
- Leaf blade: Thick, distinctly bullate and blistered. The upper surface has an intense dark green coloration with a glossy shine. The lower side of the blade is colored a lighter, bright green with a faint luster. The main veins are very thick and prominently raised. The lateral upper sinuses are deep, well-open, and have a clear lyre shape. The petiolar sinus is characterized by significant depth, open, and U-shaped. The leaf margin bears two rows of sharply outlined, large, and very distinct teeth.
- Petiole: Long, thin, situated at a pronounced obtuse angle relative to the plane of the leaf blade.
- Flower type: Functionally male.
Cultural Characteristics in Nursery Management
In nursery practice, the mother vines of this rootstock provide a high yield of long cuttings due to the overall vigor of the vines. However, owing to the low resistance to root phylloxera, the harvesting and use of cuttings are justified only for establishing mother plantations in uninfested or reliably isolated territories. In the production of grafted planting material, the use of the Taylor Narbonne form should be entirely avoided for arid regions with skeletal, shallow soils, redirecting its application (if necessary) to rich, deep, and cool soils with moderate lime content.