b'Among the hardy daisies on the market today is the classic white-petalled Shasta, which sports the deepest of daisy root systems. It comes in varying heights, widths, bloom sizes and petal arrangements. The companys Whitecap Shasta is frost tolerant as well.Breeding for SuccessIn developing the new cutting edge ornamentals with height-ened resilience to stress, both conventional and novel molecu-lar techniques are being employed by breeders, as noted by agroup of geneticists from several public institutions in India in their 2024 book Molecular Breeding in Ornamental Crops: Current Trends and Future Prospects in the Genomic Era. This team explains that as the floral industry dynamically responds to market demands, it unveils substantial potential for diversify-ing the spectrum of ornamental plants. This is partly becauseShowy milkweed.PHOTO: DON TIPPING.ornamentals have an inherent heterozygosity that enables sig-nificant variation in first-generation crosses.Among the approaches ornamental breeders are now using to develop heat/cold tolerance and other traits are mutation breeding (using both chemical and physical agents) and molecu-lar approaches involving CRISPR-Cas9, TALENs and other gene editing tools. Marker-assisted selection, GWAS and QTL mapping and virus-induced gene silencing are also effective, report the Indian scientists, to enhance overall ornamental plant perfor-mance and enhance specific visible traits such as petal size.Murgiano says Syngentas ornamental breeders are using multiple traditional and newer techniques ranging from induced mutations to molecular marker-assisted breeding, as much as ornamental sales can support (that is, the breeding budgets for field and horticulture crops are much larger). Breeding for ornamentals also has an added dimension in that when we present a new product, we need to present a line of colors in order to make it relevant, Murgiano explains. Its like a TV show. You cant just produce one episode but need a whole season. Dekko MAX Pink Petunias. PHOTO: SYNGENTASyngenta senior breeder Todd Perkins and his colleagues are carrying out testing of new hardy ornamental selections at mul- Native Plantstiple locations with high temperatures both day and night, lowIn any discussion of climate-friendly plants, native plantsrelative humidity and high solar radiation. Murgiano says select- Mediterranean species like lavender and sage, but also succu-ing under extreme conditions and making directed crosses withlents and many others indigenous to North Americacannot these selections produces the best-performing plants, but thebe ignored. Indeed, theyve seen a surge of popularity in recent breeding team also works on specific aspects related to toler- years from homeowners who want to use less water and ferti-ance to extreme conditions such as root development.lizer, while also supporting local pollinators.An interesting trial we did a few years ago was on evapora- Prairie Moon Nursery in Winona, Minnesota, offers the largest tion of several of our crops, he says. Within a crop, we did find100%-native species collection for retail sale in the United States. significant differences between selections and varieties. ButThe company sells seed in packages ranging up to a pound in our main insight was that there are certain crops, like pelargo- weight, and also sells some potted plants. nium, that have overall much lower evaporation rates (a muchMany homeowners have dry soil, or a sunny, hot part of their better water efficiency) than even the most efficient petunias.yard where not much will grow, Prairie Moon Nursery director Combining these insights with the actual tests under extremeof marketing, sales and service Becky Klukas-Brewer says. More conditions result in higher-tolerant plants to serve market needsconsumers are looking at native plants for these conditions. They for the future. are extremely versatile and able to survive in harsh conditions. 16/ SEEDWORLD.COMINTERNATIONAL EDITION 2025'