Disclosed is a method of identifying a gene encoding a polypeptide or polypeptide isoform which is substantially more active in either a proanthocyanidin (PA) or anthocyanin (ANT) pathway of a plant, said method including: - providing: 1. material from said plant at two or more developmental stages； and 2. an oligonucleotide probe capable of hybridising with RNA from a gene encoding a polypeptide which is active in a flavonoid biosynthetic pathway； - extracting RNA from said plant material； - hybridising the oligonucleotide probe with the RNA using a microarray to generate an expression profile； - measuring PA and/or ANT levels in said plant material to generate a metabolic profile； and - comparing said expression profile with said metabolite profile using a computer to identify said gene encoding a polypeptide or polypeptide isoform which is substantially active in either a PA or ANT pathway. Also disclosed is a genetic construct capable of manipulating the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in a plant, said genetic construct including a gene encoding a polypeptide or polypeptide isoform which is substantially more active in either a PA or ANT pathway of said plant, or a modified form of said gene, wherein said gene is identified using said method.
