Berlandieri x Rupestris du Lot 140 is a rootstock variety obtained in Sicily by crossing Vitis berlandieri and Rupestris du Lot. It is characterized by vigorous growth, a mid-late vegetation period (about 177 days), and a high percentage of vine ripening – over 80 %. The rootstock is well adapted to dry, poor rocky and slate soils, as well as to calcareous soils with up to 50 % carbonates. At the same time, the variety poorly tolerates waterlogging and spring flooding.
Physical traits: young shoots have a reddish-green crown, lilac-red axis, and light brown internodes 10–13 cm long. Leaves – kidney-shaped, glossy, hairless on top, slightly hairy on the underside; the petiole notch is broad and lyre-shaped, while the petioles are reddish-red in color and shorter than the central vein. The flower is male, and many inflorescences form on the bushes.
Agrotechnical features: the rootstock is formed using the short-sleeve method with 6–8 short spurs and 12–16 shoots. During the vegetation period, 2–3 leaf removals and 6–8 suckering with removal of inflorescences and tendrils are carried out. The trellis is vertical (4–6 wires). The rooting of cuttings is satisfactory – up to 40 %, however, with low content of active lime, rooting may be weak.
Advantages: high drought resistance, resistance to fungal diseases (mildew and powdery mildew), good frost hardiness of buds (-27 °C), and average resistance to root form of phylloxera. The variety also well absorbs magnesium from the soil and is able to withstand up to 20 % of soluble lime.
Disadvantages: low rooting of cuttings, sensitivity to waterlogging and spring flooding, as well as possible “chlorosis” at active lime over 17 %. When planted on fertile and moist soils, the variety can lead to excessive vine growth, reducing the quality of the crop.
Berlandieri x Rupestris du Lot 140 is widely used in regions with a dry climate and poor soils, such as Sicily, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria. It is suitable for producing wines with high tannin and acid content due to vigorous growth and good resistance to unfavorable conditions.
