Researchers insert celery gene into roses for longer life

A rose by any other name would smell … like celery?

North Carolina State Univ. research intended to extend the “vase life” of roses inserts a gene from celery inside rose plants to help fight off botrytis, or petal blight, one of the rose’s major post-harvest diseases.

Some fungal pathogens, the bad guys that infect plants, produce a sugar alcohol called mannitol that interferes with the plant’s ability to block disease like petal blight, which produces wilty, mushy petals—an effect similar to what happens to lettuce when it’s been in the crisper too long.

In an effort to make roses live longer—and to get more value from your Valentine’s Day gifts—NC State horticultural scientists Dr. John Dole and Dr. John Williamson lead an effort to insert a gene called mannitol dehydrogenase from celery into roses to “chew up” mannitol and allow the plant to defend itself from one of its greatest threats.

http://www.rdmag.com/News/2011/02/Environment-Genomics-Researchers-Insert-Celery-Gene-Into-Roses-For-Longer-Life/

Someone will come across these mysterious non-wilting roses and consider it a religious miracle.

goodmockingbird wrote:Someone will come across these mysterious non-wilting roses and consider it a religious miracle.

I don't think they'll last that long, but you might be right.