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.