The researchers said their achievement is significant, in that an herbicide-resistant grape could revitalize the Midwest wine industry since grapes are "incredibly sensitive" to 2,4-D.

"In 1946, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic -- or 2, 4-D -- was introduced. It was a wonder herbicide," University of Illinois biologist Robert Skirvin said. "But grapes are incredibly sensitive to it."

Skirvin said the discovery of the gene that makes Improved Chancellor resistant to 2, 4-D was accidental.

"The USDA found a soil bacterium that had a gene that breaks down 2, 4-D. Someone noticed that after spilling 2, 4-D on the ground, something in the soil broke it up -- metabolized it. They were looking for something to control pollution and discovered this soil bacterium instead."

Skirvin said he, graduate student Richard Mulwa, UI microbiologist Stephen Farrand and researcher Margaret Norton they hope to work with a grape grower in about five years to produce wine using the Improved Chancellor grape.