Grape genes reveal smoke taint clues

Wildfire smoke triggers different genetic responses in grape varieties, offering new clues to why some fruit may be more vulnerable to smoke taint.

Researchers studying Shiraz and Chardonnay found that grapes switch on particular genes after exposure to smoke. These genes are involved in how the fruit responds to and processes smoke-derived compounds.

The response varied significantly between the two varieties. Chardonnay activated 15 glycosyltransferase genes, compared with five in Shiraz, suggesting that grape varieties may handle smoke exposure in quite different ways.

The findings build on earlier research identifying specific grape genes involved in the response to smoke. Rather than revealing a single “smoke taint gene”, the latest work points to a wider network of genetic responses.

That could eventually help breeders identify varieties with greater resilience to wildfire smoke, while giving growers and winemakers better ways to assess the risk to grapes after a fire.