The viruses, detected as leafroll and rugose wood complex, have infected varieties like Chardonnay, Ugni Blanc, Pinot Noir and Vermentino as also Merlot, Zinfandel and Roussance imported from France and Italy.

With the Pune-based National Research Centre for Grapes (NRC) confirming the presence of the disease, the state government has decided to stop import of plant material and sought expert opinion. It is also holding a meeting on Monday to address the concerns of the wine variety grape farmers. Horticulture Minister Vinay Kore said the government had taken serious note of the “imported” viral disease.

However, Chateau Indage, a major player in the domestic wine industry, chose to downplay the incidence of the infection. “There is no spread of virus by the imported plants. Virus could spread from the indigenous rootstock and buds. There is no point in blaming the imported material,” said S G Chougale, Chairman of Chateau Indage.

The NRC, which recommended that import of plant material be stopped as of now, says that of 27 samples collected from across the state, four plants were detected to be having the virus, mainly leafroll.

The NRC, which conducted tests in 2002 and again in September 2007, has recommended that all imported varieties should carry certificates from recognised authorities from the exporting countries and imported plants be again tested and grown in protected conditions at least for two years.

“It is a sensitive matter as any misinformation or panic in farmers will affect the prospect of the growing wine industry in Maharashtra,” says NRC Director Dr P G Adsule.

The concern is understandable given that the Indian wine industry is growing at a rate of 30 to 40 per cent. Last year, Maharashtra produced 9.4 million litres of wine and this year the production is expected to cross 13 million litres from 51 wineries. The total investment in wineries in the state stands at Rs 247.71 crore and the state exported 0.45 million litres of wine last year. The domestic wine consumption in 2006-07 went up up to 11.30 million litres, from 7.50 million litres a year ago. Wine production especially got a boost after 2003 when the state announced sops for farmers.

The NRC report notes that initially, imported material was grown only in close vicinity of wineries and vineyards owned by firms such as Chateau Indage. “However, with the introduction of contract farming, most wineries are importing planting material,” says the report.

“The virus bug will kill the industry,” fears Ashok Gaikwad, who has been in grape cultivation for more than a decade in Nashik, the Napa Valley of Maharashtra. “Cultivation of wine varieties is growing and this year it has reached around 6,000 acres.” He suggests that instead of stopping import of the plant, only the mother cane should be allowed to be imported and then grafting could be done indigenously.

Many other farmers are concerned as well. “I have signed a contract with a winery to cultivate the Australian variety of Siraj in my two-acre plot. I have already invested over Rs 2.50 lakh,” worries Ajit Walzade, a farmer from Narayangaon in Pune district. He wants the state government to tighten the prevailing quarantine system.

However, the NRC points out that ignoring the viruses will be more harmful in the long run. “Not only will the vineyards be affected but also the quality of wine will deteriorate, which will result in a collapse of the industry. The grape varieties required for wines cannot be developed in India and with demand growing, thousands of plants are imported mainly from France, Italy and Australia,” notes Dr S D Sawant, plant pathologist, NRC.

NRC also believes that many grape plants could be symptom-less carriers and points out that it often takes a long time for these symptoms to appear.

There is another party to this controversy, and Dr Jayram Khilare, President of the Maharashtra Grape Growers Association, fears that no one is paying any attention to it.

“We are not opposed to the wine industry. But now with the wine varieties bringing in the virus, cultivation of even table grape in the state is under a cloud. For the last few months farmers across the state have been approaching us complaining of leafroll symptoms,” he says. Table grape is grown on more than 2 lakh acres in the state, Khilare adds.