In the heart of the Alsace wine region, researchers have planted France's only genetically modified vines in the hope of finding a way to battle the damaging "court noue" virus afflicting a third of the country's vines.

The modified plants will not grow grapes or yield any wine and scientists at the state-financed National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), which is conducting the experiment, say it is safe.

"The environmental risk is nil," Jean Masson, head of INRA in the eastern town of Colmar, said.

"We have taken all safety measures."

Many local winegrowers fear the plants will contaminate their vineyards and ruin the reputation of France's wine sector.

"It makes me angry because this is imposed on everyone without us being informed about the risk," Pierre-Paul Humbrecht, a maker of bio-wines, said.

"If there's a problem, it concerns us all. We fear for our vines."

In France, resistance against genetically modified food is fierce.

Farmer and environmentalist Jose Bove has shot to national fame for ripping up modified crops.

INRA stopped its first tests on genetically modified vines in the Champagne region in 1999 following protests.

After years of talks with locals and winemakers, Mr. Masson says his researchers have now set up enough safety measures to satisfy critics.

They have dug a hole of the size of a basketball court, put in a cover to shield the natural ground and planted the contested vines on soil from outside.

The plants are also surrounded by some 1,500 normal vines.