Recent research has suggested that wine grapes carry a higher than expected number of deleterious mutations. A study performed at the University of California, Davis uncovered this information and has implications for the future of viticulture.

The study revealed that wine grapes contain more than three times the number of deleterious mutations than the average across other species. Researchers suggest that this could be due to the fact that wine grapes are propagated through cloning, which has resulted in a decrease in genetic diversity. This could lead to an increased risk of infection from pests and disease, as well as a decrease in the quality of the grapes.

This research is important for the wine industry, as it shows a need to invest in further research to understand the implications of this lack of genetic diversity. In the future, winemakers may need to invest in methods to increase the diversity of their grapes in order to ensure the quality of their product.

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source: Phys.org