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.
It would be very interesting to see this study used in different types of flowers and what outcomes it produces.
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