COLLECTING VITIS BERLANDIERI FROM NATIVE HABITAT SITES

Abstract

Lime content is the major difference between Northern American and European vine growing soils. This resulted in significant difficulties in the development of rootstocks for European conditions at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. It was only the introduction of Vitis berlandieri as a breeding partner that led to lime-tolerant rootstocks. Despite the importance of V. berlandieri for European viticulture, only a few accessions have so far been exploited for breeding rootstocks. In most cases, these vines were only used because they were available in Europe at that time. The genetic variability of the species is certainly much larger. To preserve and evaluate genetic diversity in V. berlandieri, grape berries from 86 individual vines were collected in September 2005 from a large range of natural stands in Texas, United States. The collection locations were found in 13 counties and across a distribution from N 31° 23' to N 29° 43' and W 100° 2' to W 97° 26'. Vines will be planted in germplasm collections and evaluated for their rooting and grafting ability, their lime tolerance, and other viticultural features. Superior types will then be utilized for rootstock breeding programs.