b'Balancing Business with Pleasurefor Flower BreedingThe flower breeding industry must walk a fine line when it comes to notoverwhelming customers with information.Ashley RobinsonFOR MANY FLOWERSare a fun and beauti- says during the episode. In the breeding realm its ful way to spruce up an outdoor or indoortrialing, its creativity, its science, but its also just space. When buying flowers consumers usuallypatience and time.are on the lookout for a plant that catches theirAnother important aspect of flower breeding eye and is meant for their growing conditions.is disease resistance. Hall explains theres multi-However, theres a lot more to the flower worldple tools breeders use to do this work, but the than meets the eye. preferred way is to breed the resistance into the Plant breeders are putting a lot of time andflowers genetics.effort and resources into making sure that theirWe always have to stay ahead of the diseaseproducts when they get in the gardens are goingdiseases evolve, and they get more sophisticated to grow well, Diane Blazek, executive director ofto fight to survive. So, the main thing is we con-the National Garden Bureau and All-Americanstantly have to, once we breed for resistance, youDiane BlazekSelections, says during the June 21 episode of Seedhave to stay on top of it, you cannot basically say Speaks. Companies like these are really making allIm done, he says.of our home gardens look much better. In the flower world, its not just important to Flower companies consider a wealth of fac- breed for disease resistance but also to make tors when it comes to breeding new plants. Fromsure hobby gardeners buying plants are aware of disease resistance to drought tolerance to colour,phytosanitary risks. These can include disease risks breeders weigh each option carefully as they workfor commercial crops and warnings about invasive to bring better flower options to consumers. species.Were trying to breed a universal profile asWhat we try to do is educate gardeners on hard as of an achievement as that is, and werewhat is happening and what were hearing from the also evaluating our genetics around the world inindustry. Some of it gets so complex that we decide order to validate that before it goes to market. Andwere not even going to talk about that issue. But then of course, if there is a product that is reallyfor the most part, if the industry, our boards and regionally specific in the market demands thatour committees, feel like its something to put outRyan Hallwe do approach things from a regional aspect asthere to gardeners then we will, Blazek says.well, Ryan Hall, head of Syngenta Flowers for theShe adds they also try to encourage gardeners Americas, explains during the episode. not to be afraid of trying something new.Hall adds plant breeders are constantly work- If you go to your local garden retailer and you ing to make flowers that are more reliable, will lastsee a new seriestry it. There is a really good longer and thrive in more environments. Thesereason why that retailer, why that grower, why innovations happen slowly and are spread out overthat breeder has made it available to the market, 10, 20 or more years. The bottom line is that theBlazek says.SWflowers people buy today arent the same as the flowers they bought 20 years ago.A lot of people dont understand in a lot breed-ing, because they havent been exposed to talk- WHERE ing to breeders, that it can take years and yearsON THE WEBto bring products to market, Lisa Lacy, directorLisa Lacyof product management for PanAmerican Seed,Watch the entire conversation at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhFI7iFwSo8OCTOBER 2023SEEDWORLD.COM /57'