2. Introduction
• Rose, (genus Rosa), genus of more than
100 species of perennial shrubs belongs to
the rose family (Rosaceae).
• Roses are native primarily to the temperate
regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
• Cultivated for their beautiful flowers, which
range in colour from white through various
tones of yellow and pink to dark crimson
and maroon, and most have a delightful
fragrance
3. After thirteen years of
collaborative research by an
Australian
company, Florigene, and a
Japanese
company, Suntory, a rose
containing the blue
pigment delphinidin was
created in 2004 by genetic
engineering.
4. ANTHOCYANIN – BASED PIGMENTATION IN FLOWERS
Anthocyanins : a class of flavonoids, whose chemical structures ie the number of hydroxy groups on
the B-ring, primarily determines the color.
5. In case of roses,
• Lack flavonoid 30,50-hydoxylase
(F3050H)
• possess very minute concentration of
co-pigments such as flavones and
flavonols
• vacuolar pH of rose petal epidermal
cells is ranging pH 3.69 to 5.78.
Since there is no production of delphinidin,
roses of blue color can be obtained
6. In 1996 ,
Torenia hybrida :
hydroxycinnamoyl
CoA:anthocyanin 5-
hydroxycinnamoyl
transferase (5AT) gene
Viola : flavonoid 30,50-
hydoxylase (F3050H)
gene
Promoter :enhanced
CaMV 35S promoter
Terminator :
nopaline synthase gene
Terminator
Selectable marker :
nptII
The accumulation of delphinidin conferred
flower color changes. Some of them, such as
WKS82(B) exhibited a novel blue hue.
However, only 44% of delphinidin was
expressed thus the roses remained mauve in
color.
7. Around 2001,
The criteria for the selection of
possible host cultivars were :
(i) they accumulated flavonols
that were expected to be co-
pigments
(ii) they had a higher vacuolar pH
(iii)ideally, they did not have
F30H activity
(iv) they accumulated
pelargonidin rather than
cyanidin.
Cultivar used : ‘Lavande’
Binary plant vector used : pBin19 and pBinPLUS
pBin19 pBinPLUS
8. Transformation vector :
Inserts :
1. Irisxhollandica petal cDNA
library : Iris DFR gene
2. Viola : flavonoid 30,50-
hydoxylase (F3050H) gene
And ds rose DFR
Selectable marker : nptII
Promoter :enhanced CaMV 35S promoter
Terminator : terminator region from a
petunia phospholipid transfer protein gene
(D8)
Promoter :enhanced CaMV 35S promoter
Terminator : nopaline synthase gene
Terminator
Promoter :enhanced CaMV 35S promoter
Terminator : terminator region from
manopine synthase
9. Method of transformation
Results :
agrobacterium tumefaciens strain : ag10
Explant : stem internodes
Medium : Murashige and Skoog medium
A high frequency delphinidin
accumulation and color change
wasobserved in the flowers. Transgenic
rose plants harboring pSPB919 produced
>80% delphinidin.
10. Application : mostly used as ornamentals.
Authorisations : The roses have been evaluated and approved based on the "Act
concerning Maintenance of Diversity of Organisms regulated by Use of Genetically-
Modified Organisms" . Merchandising was considered after production,
distribution, and sales structures had been properly established. Florigene. Ltd. was
established as an Australian bio-venture company in 1986. It develops new varieties
of plants by using biotechnology. It is a world's leading company in the research of
flower colour. SUNTORY LIMITED took over the company's shares in December,
2003 and now the blue roses are marketed under the name ‘APPLAUSE’ established
Suntory itself.
11. Time line
1990
• The blue rose project started
1991
• Blue genes were isolated from petunias, and the
patent of the gene was filed,
1994
• Roses into which petunia genes were introduced
flowered, but they showed no hint of blue
1995
• Succeeded in producing blue carnations
1996
• Blue pigments finally accumulated in roses too,
flower color changed
1998-2002
• The % od blue pigments increased to 100%, blue
roses were finally born.
2004
• Finally the success of the development was announced
2009
• Blue roses were marketed, and the pursuit to improve
the blue color continued.
