Propagation of Vitis Champini Planchon cv Ramsey, Storage and Field Practices

Abstract

Time of selection, storage medium, orientation of cuttings in storage and field practices were examined in two factorial experiments. Sand storage of horizontally placed cuttings followed by mulching during the first growing season gave the highest survival rate and the most vigorous rootlings.

Ramsey is an important vine rootstock noted for resistance to nematodes and enhancement of yield, but it is often difficult to propagate (5,8). In a previous paper we examined the culture of Ramsey in artificial environments and found that dormancy release either by cold storage or late selection of cuttings was an essential prerequisite for successful propagation (4). A temperature of 25°C was close to optimal for culture of the cuttings. These results suggest that cuttings should be stored until soil temperatures in the field become sufficiently high to enable root development. In this paper we examine combinations of storage and field conditions designed to satisfy these requirements.