There is A New Mum In Town

The color blue is found all over the earth from the sky to what we see on the ocean, though one place a true blue color is not found in abundance is in mums, being the flower. From a scientific breakthrough mums are finally able to truly grow blue as can be by the correct manipulation of their genes. Scientist Naonobu Noda who works at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization located in Tsukuba, Japan along with other colleagues has been credited this accomplishment. By taking a gene from the Canterbury bells and adding a gene from butterfly peas the manipulation in mums allowed an important enzyme to create the compound needed for a blue color. The compounds for natural blue colors in flowers that have now been activated in mums, which were not present before are known as delphinidin-based anthocyanin pigments. In the experiment a total of 19 out of the 32 mums treated bloomed into a blue color rather than their normal pinkish colors. These results made the experiment quite a success and will allow gardeners and flower lovers to lavish in blue mums in a true blue natural setting.