Thursday, February 7, 2008

Violets are Blue, Now Roses are Too



Recently we reported on rainbow colored roses from the Netherlands, that were causing quite a craze in Tokyo, Japan. The craze has apparently not worn off, as one Japanese company has developed something quite new and original.

Suntory Ltd., who also produces alcohol, created the world’s first genetically modified Blue roses, which they will begin to sell next year.

purple_rose.jpg

“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 have not been decided.

They created the flowers by implanting the gene that leads to the synthesis of the blue pigment Delphinidin in pansies. The pigment does not exist naturally in roses.

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