The World's First Blue Rose...
A truly blue rose has been the ultimate aspirations of rose breeders since 1840, when the horticultural societies of Britain and Belgium offered a prize of 500,000 francs to the first person to produce a genuinely blue rose. The feat wasn’t easy, but the company that created them is hoping it will be worth it.
It took 14 years of study with Japanese and Australian researchers to create the world’s first blue rose. Sometimes, it seems, Mother Nature just doesn’t want to budge. It was finally accomplished by implanting the gene that leads to the synthesis of the blue pigment Delphinidin in pansies. This pigment does not exist naturally in roses. The rose is the first in the world with the genetic potential to produce 'true blue' roses, spanning the spectrum from baby blue to navy.
The Suntory rose is also historic for another reason. It is potentially the first commercial plant in the world to exploit RNA interference (RNAi) technology. RNAi technology is used for research and development across the biological and medical sciences. The Japanese company that created the genetically modified blue roses, will start selling them commercially next year. Suntory Ltd, also a major whisky distiller, hopes to sell several hundred thousand blue roses a year, company spokesman Kazumasa Nishizaki said.
"As its price may be a bit high, we are targeting demand for luxurious cut flowers, such as for gifts,'' he said.
The exact price and commercial name for the blue rose, which was first created in 2004, have still not been decided. The company is now growing the rose experimentally in Australia and the United States to get approval for sales.
If all goes well, next year’s Valentine lovers will have a new, rarer, option for those who feel red is getting a little predictable.
Posted by Rebecca Sato.
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Link: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23157307-23109,00.html
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IVE KNOWN A GIRL FOR SOME TIME NOW... I JUST KINDA REUNITED WITH HERE AND JUST DECIDED TO ASK WHAT HER FAVORITE COLOR IS...AND SHE SAID BLUE SO I STARTED LOOKIN FOR BLUE ROSES. I KEEP FINDING THE BLUE ROSES THAT ARE DYED BLUE. IM READING YOUR STORY ON THE BLUE ROSE AND ITS SAYIN THAT THIS IS A REAL BLUE ROSE. IS IT? AND HOW MUCH DO THEY GO FOR. IM TRYIN TO DO THIS FAST SO LET ME KNOW ASAP. THANKS
Posted by: ROBBIE ALMANZA | September 09, 2008 at 05:03 PM
That's incredible.
It's just like out of a fairy-tale.
Or that silly play where his little sister can't say 'pleurosis', and it comes out 'blue roses'. Glass Minagre, I think...
Posted by: Aery | September 10, 2008 at 10:50 AM
YOU SICKEN ME!! my dad had that idea for almost 45 years. it's his birthday saturday and now i have to break it to him that all that hoping for that long was wasted. btw its not natural. tampering with genetics doesn't use real things. all metal contamination and such. i hope the business crumples, burns, and get washed away never to return. and i dont care what you say about me. or think or spread rumors i really dont care for fans of poor quality fakes. (mad and sad faces) :`( >:(
Posted by: Jennifer | September 24, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Aery got some wise words for ya suck it up and harden up u'll get far in life with that advise
Posted by: mojo | December 01, 2008 at 03:35 AM
Thats great! I love the color blue.
CAnt'wait til' comes to stores or online. ^^
Posted by: hope | March 18, 2009 at 09:25 AM
I have wanted a real blue rose all my life! Too bad I would probably kill it!
Posted by: Mondia | April 24, 2009 at 08:52 PM
Wow, you have some... interesting replies.
Anywho.
I'll have to look into this, though I do wish you'd linked the company name. I've always wanted to grow roses in general, but blue roses are just fascinating. :)
Posted by: Beth | February 19, 2010 at 04:02 PM
Found the company, and here's their webpage about the roses: http://www.florigene.com/news/news.php
Seems that the blue is more of a purple-blue, and they're hoping to breed these into bluer and bluer versions. Seems that a rose that can carry the blue gene is merely the first step in making truly blue roses.
Posted by: Beth | February 19, 2010 at 04:11 PM
it so beautiful.. omg
Posted by: fusachialewis | April 15, 2011 at 10:21 AM
it so beautiful.. omg
Posted by: fusachialewis | April 15, 2011 at 10:22 AM
i have never seen something like this, but i must say it looks beautiful
Posted by: Mortgage Altter | June 22, 2011 at 09:29 PM
not true they are died>>:( :( :( :(..........
Posted by: carrie | September 29, 2011 at 04:40 PM
*sigh*
Posted by: Cornell.Michael.Williams.Jr | February 18, 2012 at 11:22 AM
@ ROBBIE ALMANZA,
This comment is not to cause drama but to correct you: In the play you speak of, "The Glass Menagerie," Laura (the little sister) can say pleurosis. Jim (the gentleman caller) just heard it wrong. Lol. I know this only because I was cast as Jim in that play about a month ago. Hahaha.
To the poster, aren't the 'blue roses' lilac? I just searched it and they weren't blue at all, unless dyed. Just wondering. Lol
Posted by: Steven Torres | March 30, 2013 at 08:13 AM