Professor Chien-Young Chu from the Department of Horticulture at the National Chung-Hsing University in Taiwan developed sixteen years ago the first educational breeding programs. The government put him in charge of the introduction of commercially breeding in Taiwan as there was hardly any tradition in this field in the country. Next year he will retire. Partly the more interesting varieties of these programs already found their way to the market. His retirement inspires him to spread the news about his and his student work even more around the world. His department therefor participated in the umbrella stand of the Tawainese Floriculture Development Association on the International Floriculture Trade Fair (IFTF), which was held from October 31-November 2 in the Netherlands.
Thorn-less Euphorbia milii
Chu showed on this trade fair two completely thorn-less Euphorbia milii varieties. Pink Fairy has relatively small pink flowers and Bright Crown with red flowers grows a bit bigger. Both show a natural ramification. For the two Crown of Thorns Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBRs) are applied in Taiwan.
Asian Wind hibiscus
On the IFTF stand a Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was displayed, flowering yellow with white eye. It belongs to the Asian Wind series which was created at the Department of Horticulture at the National Chung-Hsing University. Japanese nusery Hanakongou Co. Ltd. from Japan financed this breeding work. The series include in total twenty cultivars. Four years ago the series was taken into production in Taiwan. One year earlier the above mentioned Japanese nursery Hanakongou Co. Ltd already started to grow these hibiscus’. This company showed together with nursery Gouto Horticulture which also grows the series now, the Asian Wind hibiscus’ on the this year held 9th International Flower Expo in Japan’s capital Tokyo.
At first sight the Asian Wind hibiscus’ do not differ so much from other varieties. However, the petals are substantially thicker, which makes the flowers stronger. The plants ramify easily. The royalty administration is taken care of by Dutch agency Hortis Legal.
Kalanchoe hybridizing
The Taiwanese professor also hybridized Kalanchoe bossfeldiana with the yellow K. garambiensis. This species is indigenous in the southern part of Taiwan and therefore very heat tolerant. Chu selected his seedlings on heat tolerance. The selections he made, also show a good ramification. “Without any pinching”, he underscores. For two single-flowered and four double-flowered varieties PBRs are applied. When he compares his red double Kalanchoe with the current assortment, he notice that the petals of his creation is much more shiny than the traditional varieties.
No white fly on poinsettia
Last but not least he mentioned the poinsettia breeding done on his Department of Horticulture. The varieties from that breeding program do not stand out because of their appearance. “For some reason or another, these poinsettias do not attract white fly”, Chu assures. “Also the lateral branches do not break easily. Both characteristics make these varieties to an attractive alternative for growers.”
在參加國際花卉貿易展時 newPlantsandFlowers 的主編 對台彎的大學 會從事花卉品種的開發很好奇 因此做了上述的訪問 稿子出來還請老園丁校正兩次才裁定稿 非常專業 不像台灣記者隨口問問就發新聞稿 當你看到新聞會覺得那不是你說的話
老園丁這下子又賺到了 有歐洲專業網站 為老園丁的產品免費介紹這麼大的篇幅有點受寵若驚
老園丁比刊出好幾篇的SCI報告還興奮
這位編輯明年春還要來台訪問 得把握機會邀他到老園丁的祕密花園 再專訪一次 當然要免費的