Florigene

The creation of a transgenic blue rose by Florigene and Suntory scientists was announced in 2005. The flower was mauve, rather than blue but represented a step in the development of a blue rose. . Introducing an F3′5′H gene on its own produced a burgundy rose. Scientists discovered that silencing the rose dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) gene using RNA interference (RNAi) removed competing pigments. The blue rose with developed with the delphinidin gene from blue pansy and a DFR gene from iris that favored production of delphinidin. Difference in pH or acidity in the petals of the rose prevents the pigment form being as blue as a pansy.