Owens explains that grapes have two copies of every gene. “When Gret1 is present in both copies of VvmybA1, the grapevine will bear white fruit,” he says.

This is big news, because color is perhaps the most important of grape characteristics. It's one of the first things people think of when deciding to plant or buy grapes for eating, or for juice or wine. Also, grape color has been linked to some of the health benefits from eating grapes.

Owens says that the discoveries about VvmybA1 and Gret1 may make it easier to grow new types of grapes for specific colors. Another possibility is to develop new grapes with unusual colors.

“Picture it,” Owens says: “an  orange grape!”

By Luis Pons,
formerly, Agricultural Research Service, Information Staff