Druivenziekte aanpakken door middel van genetische manipulatie. Dat is de Australische wetenschapper Ian Dry na tien jaar experimenteren in het laboratorium gelukt. Hij heeft nu en druivenstok ontwikkeld die resistent is tegen meeldauw, een schimmelige aandoening waarmee de Europese wijnbouw vooral in vochtige seizoenen kampt. Onze Australische correspondent in Adelaide bericht:

“After ten years of laboratory trials, an Adelaide plant scientist has developed genetically modified grape vines that are resistant to mildew.

Downy and powdery mildew plagued vineyards across southern Australia last vintage due to the wet warm summer, with many grapes left to rot on the vine.

CSIRO research scientist Ian Dry says the vines haven't been tested in the field, as the industry isn't keen on GM technology.

"What we done is identify two genes from the North American grape vine which confer resistance from these two mildew pathogens," he said.

"We've managed to transfer those into a number of winegrape cultivars, including shiraz, and generate transgenic vines.

"Because we can't do field trials, we've had to do all the inoculations in the laboratory."

He says there are many reasons why the wine industry won't currently go down the GM path.

"Australia's wine industry is very much leveraged towards exports, and one thing we have found, particularly with exports into Europe, the European market is very sensitive to the suggestion wines were made from GM vines.

"Until the European market feels more comfortable, I don't see much opportunity for Australian growers to use transgenic vines for exports anyway."