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Subject

Kingfisher

Description

Root-knot nematodes are a chief pest of vineyards across California and the United States, but aggressive and virulent nematode populations can feed on and damage many important rootstock varieties. The USDA ARS breeding program tests the root-knot nematode resistance of rootstocks and wild grape species and combines nematode resistance and other useful traits through hybridization. We then evaluate the pest resistance, viticultural performance, and other important qualities of the new seedlings to identify candidate rootstocks. Three improved rootknot nematode resistant rootstocks: Matador, Minotaur and Kingfisher were released from the USDA ARS breeding program in 2010 and are available from FPS.

Kingfisher resulted from selection of a seedling in a population derived from controlled hybridization of the Vitis hybrid rootstock selection 4-12A (seed parent) with Vitis riparia (pollen parent). 4-12A is a cross of V. x champinii Dog Ridge and V. rufotomentosa. The original Kingfisher vine was planted in 2002. In addition to nematode resistance and propagation evaluations, Kingfisher has been evaluated grafted to Syrah in a rootstock trial in California.

Kingfisher is easily rooted from dormant cuttings and bench grafted to Vitis vinifera scions. Kingfisher was identified as a seedling selection on December 24, 2002 due to its complete suppression of root-knot nematode reproduction in greenhouse evaluation. Root-knot nematode resistance was confirmed in replicated tests of cutting grown plants. The nematode population used to confirm resistance was an N-virulent nematode population capable of feeding on and damaging N-allele grapevine rootstocks, such as Harmony and Freedom.

Dormant cuttings collected from plants grown in a California vineyard were evaluated for rooting ability; 100% of dormant cuttings of Kingfisher successfully propagated and produced callus, shoots, and roots. Kingfisher was grafted to Syrah and planted into a rootstock trial at UC KREC, Parlier, California in 2005. When four years of fruiting data and three years of pruning weight data are considered, Kingfisher rootstock showed a fruit to pruning weight ratio of 6.53. The check rootstock, Freedom, showed a fruit to pruning weight ratio of 6.14, demonstrating the improved production efficiency of Kingfisher rootstock compared to Freedom.

People

Peter Cousins

Links

The National Grape Registry (NGR) contains information about varieties of wine, juice, and table grapes, raisins, and grape rootstocks available in the United States. Growers, nurseries, winemakers and researchers can find background information and source contacts for those grape varieties in this single convenient location.

Foundation Plant Services at UC Davis is the source of Foundation grapevine material for the nursery industry, and the staff can provide information about possible sources for obtaining this stock.

Publications

Cousins, P. 2011. Three Root-Knot Nematode Resistant Rootstocks Released By USDA Agricultural Research Service (pdf). FPS Grape Program Newsletter, University of California, Davis, California. Page 12.

This website is a work in progress of the University of California (UC) Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources (ANR) Integrated Grape Production Workgroup. It is designed to increase accessability to the work of UC researchers, including faculty, Cooperative Extension (CE) specialists, CE advisors, and staff. UC Researchers interested in contributing content are invited to contact Deborah Golino dagolino@ucdavis.edu to discuss possible contributions.