A grape is a non- climacteric berry , belonging to the genus Vitis. It is mainly found growing on the perennial and deciduous woody vines in groups of 6 to 300. This fruit is found in varied colors such as dark blue, yellow, crimson, black, green, pink and white. ‘White' grapes are mainly green in color but are too light to differentiate at times. They are a product of the evolution of the purple grape. Mutations carried in two regulatory genes of white grapes drastically reduce the production of anthocyanins in these berries which are primarily responsible for the purple color of these grapes.

The concord grapes are the cultivar s borne from Vitis labrusca genus of the grape species. These grapes find varied use as table, wine and juice grapes. The color of the skin of concord grapes is dark blue or deep purple. They are often found covered in the light colored bloom which is rubbed off before it is put to use. The skin of these fruits can be easily removed and hence are called as the skin-slip variety. The seeds of concord grapes are large and highly aromatic as well.

Health Benefits :

•  The consumption of concord grapes are known to cause alteration of molecular mechanisms in the blood vessels, there by reducing the susceptibility of vascular damage.

•  Concord grapes immensely decrease the activity of angiotensin , a systemic hormone which causes the constriction of blood vessels that elevate the blood pressure. They also increase the production of the vasodilator hormone and nitric oxide known to be an endothelium-derived relaxing factor .

•  Even though the consumption of wine is not advised by some health authorities, a daily intake of less quantity is known to keep psychological disorders at bay.

References :

1. ^ Walker AR, Lee E, Bogs J, McDavid DA, Thomas MR, Robinson SP, AR (Mar 2007). "White grapes arose through the mutation of two similar and adjacent regulatory genes". Plant J 49 (5): 772–85. doi :10.1111/j.1365-313X.2006.02997.x+ (inactive 2009-09-06). ISSN   0960-7412 . PMID   17316172 .
2. ^ Waterhouse AL , AL (May 2002). "Wine phenolics" . Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 957 : 21–36. doi : 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb02903.x . ISSN   0077-8923 . PMID   12074959 .
3. ^ Brouillard R, Chassaing S, Fougerousse A, R (December 2003). "Why are grape/fresh wine anthocyanins so simple and why is it that red wine color lasts so long?" . Phytochemistry 64 (7): 1179–86. doi : 10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00518-1 . ISSN   0031-9422 . PMID   14599515 .
4. ^ "The most widely planted grape in the world" .