Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
15
Prospects for the
Commercialization of
Transgenic Ornamentals
Michael S. Dobres
CONTENTS
Introduction............................................................................................................ 305
Patents,.Plants,.and.Costs....................................................................................... 307
Field.Testing.and.Deregulation............................................................................... 309
Global.Distribution.and.Deregulation.................................................................... 311
Consumer.Acceptance............................................................................................ 313
References.............................................................................................................. 314
INTRODUCTION
Over. the. past. 20. years,. there. has. been. an. explosion. in. the. range. of. technologies.
available. to. breeders. of. commodity.crops.. This.has. included. the.use. of. molecular.
markers
1
. and. transgenic. technologies
2
. to. bring. about. signiicant. increases. in. crop.
yields..Despite.this.availability.and.a.signiicant.amount.of.academic.and.industrial.
experimentation,.these.technologies.have.not.been.effectively.applied.to.the.develop-
ment.and.commercialization.of.ornamental.plants..This.essay.seeks.to.explain.the.
commercial.and.business.reasons.behind.this.apparent.missed.opportunity.
In.the.United.States,.the.entire.wholesale.value.of.the.ornamental.market.exceeds.
$8.billion.annually.
3
.The.market.can.be.divided.into.several.major.product.sectors.
including. cut. lowers,. potted. plants,. as. well. as. all. categories. of. garden. and. land-
scape.plants.(trees,.shrubs.and.herbaceous.annuals,.and.perennials)..In.the.nursery.
and.landscape.industry,.there.is.signiicant.consumer.and.grower.demand.for.low-
maintenance.plants..This.includes.plants.with.improved.disease.resistance,.drought.
tolerance,.and.cold.and.heat.tolerance.as.well.as.plants.with.an.extended.seasonal.
lowering.period..Disease.and.insect.resistance.traits.have.the.potential.to.reduce.the.
environmental.and.human.health.impact.of.gardening.and.landscaping.in.terms.of.
reduced.pesticide.and.chemical.input,.as.has.been.reported.for.the.use.of.transgenic.
commodity. crops.
4,5
. Traits. such. as. compact. habit. and. improved. branching. could.
reduce.the.time.and.labor.needed.to.maintain.landscaped.areas.
Compared.to.the.achievements.of.conventional.breeders,.genetic.engineers.have.a.
tough.act.to.follow..For.centuries,.breeders.of.ornamental.plants.have.pursued.genet-
ics.that.confer.improved.disease.resistance,.improved.habit,.more.lowers,.extended.
305
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