Taking a serious note of The Indian Express report, ‘Virus strikes Maharashtra vineyards, imports stopped’ (November 5), Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Monday said he will look into the matter and direct Pune-based National Research Centre for Grapes (NRC) to investigate the viruses found on the imported plant material.

“I read The Indian Express report and I have sought information about the virus infection in imported plant material. I will be looking into the matter. Fortunately, the apex research institute for grapes is based in Pune. I am directing the NRC to conduct the investigation,” said Pawar, while talking to media after attending a meeting of the Bajaj Auto Limited management and the workers’ union.

He said the Central Government was not directly involved in importing the plant material. “Various farmer organisations and other institutions import seeds and plant material from foreign countries.

However, the imported material is not allowed to go to the fields without a quarantine,” said Pawar. After the quarantine, an expert committee appointed by the Government checks the plant material for infection. The plant material goes to the field only after a green signal from the panel, he said.

The Indian Express report was based on an NRC research report that viruses — leafroll and rugose wood complex — have infected varieties like Chardonnay, Ugnl Blanc, Pinot Noir and Vermentino as also Merlot, Zinfandel and Roussance imported from France and Italy.

The wine industry in the state produces 94 per cent of the wine in the country.

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