COLLEGE STATION — Roses are red … and pink and white and yellow, to name a few. But a rose breeder with Texas A&M AgriLife Research wants to hear from enthusiasts about what colors and other traits in the popular garden flower are desired.
To that end, Dr. David Byrne is seeking input on a brief survey that ultimately will help him develop new varieties with the most sought-after traits.
Rose breeding research is led by Dr. David Byrne on the Texas A&M University campus. (Texas A&M AgriLife Research photo by Kathleen Phillips)
“We need help from rose enthusiasts to understand what is needed in a rose,” said Byrne, who holds the Bayse Chair in Rose Breeding at Texas A&M. “I have worked with the Rose Hybridizer Association to develop a survey about the use and preferences for roses to help us understand what the priorities should be.”
Byrne asks rose enthusiasts – or those interested in ornamental plants in general – to complete the 15-minute survey. The survey can be assessed at http://bit.ly/Ujzek0.
“The more responses that we can get, the better our conclusions,” he said.
Byrne especially seeks responses from the younger generation (those under 50 years old). He suggested that links to the survey be posted on personal Facebook pages or other social media formats to encourage participation.
More information about AgriLife Research rose breeding can be found at
http://www.facebook.com/tamuroses.
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