About
The Rootstock Selector Tool brings all of the known information about rootstocks together to help you make a choice that is right for you. This is backed by years of Australian and international research that has evaluated a range of rootstocks for their key attributes. We hope you find this useful.
Rootstock attributes
The key criteria used in the Rootstock Selector Tool were selected as they relate directly to important information about the planting site. The criteria include climate, soil water availability, soil salinity, drainage and pH, root knot nematodes and desired vine vigour.
The Rootstock Selector Tool has been updated to include information on phylloxera as planting rootstocks is the best defence against an infestation. The majority of rootstocks for sale in Australia have some level of tolerance to phylloxera.
The rootstock attributes are supported by published research that ranks the rootstock as having a 1 (low), 2 (low to moderate), 3 (moderate), 4 (high) or 5 (very high) tolerance or capacity for a particular trait. Across the available published literature, different references may give different rankings of rootstocks for a trait. The Rootstock Selector Tool calculates a weighted average to account for such differences. For example, if based on review of the literature for a particular trait, a rootstock has 8 literature references giving it a moderate tolerance /capacity (a 3 ranking) and 3 references giving it high tolerance / capacity (a 4 ranking), the weighted average for the trait is calculated by taking the sum of 8 x 3 and 3 x 4 = 36, divided by the total number of literature references (11), giving it a weighted average ranking of 3.27.
In a few cases, no published research on a specific attribute for a specific rootstock was found. In such cases, there would be a nil response for that rootstock for that trait.
If, in describing the site characteristics, you arrive at a planting site description for which the Rootstock Selector Tool shows no rootstocks as available to meet the requirements of that site, you are encouraged to explore other scenarios then to talk with a grapevine nursery specialist, consultant or other people in the know about what options might be available. The Rootstock Selector Tool is a guide to what rootstocks might be suitable to meet the characteristics of a particular site. It does not provide recommendations. Hence, you are encouraged to discuss potentially available rootstocks for your site with a specialist.
References
Information on rootstock growth habit and tolerance is supported by publicly available research undertaken in Australia or internationally. To follow up on any individual reference, click on the superscript number in blue (eg: Cool [100]) and the reference will be shown. You can request the reference via the Australian Wine Research Institute’s (AWRI) free library if required.
Acknowledgements
Yalumba Nursery developed the original version of Rootstock Selector Tool and kindly made it available to Wine Australia for updating and general release in 2016.
CSIRO contributed in-kind support to review and upgrade of the tool through Dr Rob Walker and Peter Clingeleffer.
Wine Australia also acknowledges the input of Vinehealth Australia and that of consultant and invited technical specialists to various components of the upgrade.
Disclaimer
This information has been made available on the understanding that Wine Australia is not rendering professional advice. Wine Australia does not accept responsibility for the results of any actions taken on the basis of the information contained in the Rootstock Selector Tool, nor for the accuracy, currency or completeness of any material.