Plant science specialist Niab, has received funding to record DNA fingerprints for European rose varieties.
The funding is from the European Community Plant Variety Rights Office and Defra and marks the first time that DNA fingerprints for roses have been recorded in the UK. It will put Niab at the forefront of protecting plant breeders’ rights. The institute will create a database based on three sets of criteria: morphological characteristics and flower features as well as DNA fingerprints.
Niab will work alongside organisations in Germany and the Netherlands to develop a standard approach in identifying and verifying the varieties so that all European databases are compatible.
In a separate development, Niab has also compiled a new Veg Finder catalogue for 2005. It lists more than 5,000 varieties of vegetable and is of particular relevance to garden centre staff and amateur growers.
For the first time it is available electronically from Cambridge-based Niab and brings together information contained in all 34 previous editions.
And in a final development for the busy bio-scientists at Niab, they played host to six vegetable specialists from Irish agronomy consultancy Teagasc instructing them in the latest ranges of carrots, parsnips, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sprouting broccoli, kale, celery, salad onions, onions, leeks and courgettes.
“We find that agricultural specialists from a wide variety of countries really value our independent advice and support when it comes to developing their agri-industries,” said Niab vegetable specialist Mike Day.
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