Wine grape genes mapped by Delia Cruceru

A group of scientists from France and Italy, funded by the France's Agriculture Ministry, deciphered the complete genetic code for pinot noir grapes, being the first fruit ever to be genetically mapped. The researchers from the French-Italian Public Consortium for Grapevine Genome Characterization published their findings in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature, saying that they identified almost half a billion chemical building blocks of the grape's DNA. The study reveals that for the red wine more than 100 of its genes are dedicated to producing tannins and terpenes, important components for anti ageing effects. This could be a first step in developing new flavors for the wine, as well as making it more resistant to mildew and insects, but it might take a while until this new knowledge will be applied for wines. "The research is genetic confirmation of what Burgundy and pinot noir lovers have known for centuries, which is that pinot noir is exquisitely sensitive to where and how it is grown," Allen Meadows of burghound.com, a leading Burgundy critic said. "Pinot-based wines produced in say Burgundy, while similar, are still distinctly different from those produced in California, Oregon or New Zealand." Andre Barlier, assistant director of Viniflhor, a government-funded agency to support French wine, doubts that French winemakers, which are very conservative, will apply the new method as they are fond of their traditionally ways. "I don't think it will have an impact in the short term," Barlier said.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070927/ap_on_re_eu/france_grape_genome;_ylt=AqLoSXo9Yg1KgEl3CGATOwWs0NUE

by Delia Cruceru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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