Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
The program experienced tremendous progress with 16 plants targeted for intellectual property protection. Mini Penny, a Hydrangea macrophylla selection with remontant flowering characteristics, received a US Plant Patent. Lady in Red, another Hydrangea macrophylla, was patented in 2003 and is being marketed nationwide with over 500,000 in production in 2005. Blushing Bride, a magnificent white mophead remontant type resulting from controlled crosses of H. m. Veitchii x Bailmer, was submitted for a patent. Five dwarf Lagerstroemia seedling selections are being patented, along with six non-remontant H. macrophylla selections. All hydrangeas were selected for unique floral traits, superior foliage, growth habit and leaf mildew resistance. Six thousand controlled pollinations of Hydrangea taxa were constituted. These crosses utilized the superior germplasm developed via this program. Seeds were germinated in November 2004 and the seedlings will be transplanted in the
spring. The program has identified the best progenitor taxa (from ~225 in ground evaluations) that produce seedlings with superior flowers, foliage, growth habit, cold hardiness, reblooming (remontancy), and disease resistance. Remarkably, only four - Veitchii, Lilacina, David Ramsey and White Wave - consistently produce the traits described. Backcrosses with our superior selections to the above has become de riguer. Backcrossed seedlings from 2003 will flower in 2005. Hydrangea taxa that offer sun, heat, and deer tolerances have been accessioned. Hydrangea scandens and H. umbellata will be incorporated into our superior seedlings to capture these resistances in the progeny. The program is also engaged in breeding abelia, buddleia, gardenia, nandina, pittosporum, rhaphiolepis and viburnum. In 2004, three mite resistant buddleia - Lavender Eyes, White Eyes and Raspberry Eyes - were released. They incorporate B. globosa, B. davidii and B. lindleyana in the genome; the latter an
evergreen species imparting mite resistance. An international conference on Hydrangea was spawned from this research and will be held May 19-21, 2005 in Athens and Thomson, Georgia.
Impacts
The uniqueness of the work is the focused, sustained and energetic approach to developing superior woody garden plants that improve the competitiveness of the nursery industry and excite the gardening public. The marriage of superior ornamental characteristics, ease of culture and pest resistances insures successful tenure in the marketplace. The incorporation of the remontant flowering trait into H. macrophylla progeny forever changes the cultural regimen (easier) and the market penetration (larger). One of the remontant types will sell 1.3 million units in 2004; while the 'Lady in Red' (non remontant) sells 400,000. These plants have value-added for the commercial producer and retailer, while the consumer receives a unique, guaranteed-to-perform genotype.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The woody landscape plant breeding, evaluation and introduction program is currently developing new ornamental cultivars in Abelia, Buddleia, Gardenia, Hydrangea, Ilex, Lagerstroemia, Nandina, Rhaphiolepis and Spiraea. Hydrangea and Lagerstroemia are the two major genera with over 15,000 and 3,000 seedlings evaluated, respectively. The hydrangea work involves the species H. arborescens, H. macrophylla, H. paniculata, H. quercifolia and H. serrata. Currently, 11 Hydrangea macrophylla are in the patent process, with two, 'Lady in Red' (mildew resistant, red stems, petioles, fall color, pink lace cap flowers) and 'Mini Penny' (compact, mildew resistant, remontant mophead) submitted to USPTO. The remontant (reblooming) characteristic has been incorporated into progeny via controlled crosses. This unique trait, common to only five genotypes the program has collected, will revolutionize subsequent generations of florist and garden hydrangeas since the plants flower on new
growth without short day and cold temperature stimuli. In 2003, >2,500 controlled crosses were made using the remontant taxa and the best (mildew resistant, superior foliage, cold hardiness) commercially extant cultivars. The 2001 cross of Endless Summer and 'Veitchii' resulted in a remontant white mophead with high foliar mildew resistance. This is the first incidence of the remontant trait being expressed in an F1 generation without the necessity of backcrossing to capture more of the remontant trait(s). The breeding cycle has been streamlined to the degree that controlled crosses initiate in March-April in the greenhouse, produce seeds in November, that when sown immediately and carefully nurtured, yield flowering plants the following summer. Twenty-four selections of H. paniculata, one H. arborescens and one H. serrata are also in the final evaluation stages. Five compact Lagerstroemia seedlings selected in 1998 and 1999 are being patented. They resulted from 1,017 open-pollinated
seedlings of selected dwarf genotypes. An additional 100 dwarf selections from >2,000 seedlings of 'Pocomoke' times 'White Chocolate' times 'Chickasaw' were made in 2002 and 2003. They offer magnificent flower colors (white, pink, rose, purple, red), disease and insect resistances. Several true red and glistening white flowered selections were retrieved. The early Abelia work resulted in the release of 'Canyon Creek' (yellow foliage, pink flowers) and 'Rose Creek' (compact habit, lustrous dark green foliage, abundant white flowers) from 31 selections. The best compact form, Abelia #25, was shy flowering in the early evaluation process. However, seedlings from #25 are more compact, more evergreen and more floriferous. Currently, six seedlings are under evaluation. A true genetic dwarf Abelia with superior foliage and flower is on the horizon.
Impacts
The uniqueness of the work is the focused, sustained and energetic approach to developing superior woody garden plants that improve the competitiveness of the nursery industry and excite the gardening public. The marriage of superior ornamental characteristics, ease of culture and pest resistances insures successful tenure in the marketplace. The incorporation of the remontant flowering trait into H. macrophylla progeny forever changes the cultural regimen (easier) and the market penetration (larger). One of the remontant types will sell 1.3 million units in 2004; while the 'Lady in Red' (non remontant) sells 400,000. These plants have value-added for the commercial producer and retailer, while the consumer receives a unique, guaranteed-to-perform genotype.
Publications
- Dirr, M. A., J. A. Adkins, and R. T. Olsen. 2002. Magnolia zenii Cheng. 'Pink Parchment'. HortScience 37:709-710; cover art.
- Zhang, D, J. Li, M. A. Dirr and S. Spongberg. 2002. The origination of new Chamaecyparis cultivar 'Qiana'. HortScience 37(3):442. (Abstract)
- Dirr, M. A. 2002. Dirr's trees and shrubs for warm climates - An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 446p.
- Dirr, M. A. 2002. Plant breeding, evaluation, selection and introduction. Center for Applied Nursery Research. 2002 Open House (Program and Projects). 5 pages
- Patent - Hydrangea macrophylla 'Lady in Red' (PPAF) 2003.
- Patent - Hydrangea macrophylla 'Mini Penny' (PPAF) 2003.
- Dirr, M. A. 2003. See 'em to believe 'em: Plants that show true promise. NMPRO 19(10):12-13, 65.
- Dirr, M. A. 2003. Ilex verticillata 'La Harve'. NMPRO 19(8):12.
- Dirr, M. A. 2003. Ceanothus offers opportunities for enterprising breeders. NMPRO 19(7):18-19, 80-81.
- Dirr, M. A. 2003. Evaluation program yields dynamite hydrangeas, nandinas. NMPRO 19(4):14-15, 71-72.
- Dirr, M. A. 2003. Long-term evaluations yield 2 promising plants. NMPRO 19(1):14-15, 88, 90.
- Adkins, J. A. and M. A. Dirr. 2003. Remontant flowering potential of ten Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser. cultivars. HortScience 38:1337-1340.
- Lindstrom, J. T., M. C. Pelto, and M. A. Dirr. 2003. Molecular assessment of remontant (reblooming) Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars. J. Environ. Hort. 21:57-60.
- Dirr, M. A. 2003. Continued adventures in plant improvement in the Department of Horticulture and the Center for Applied Nursery Research. Center for Applied Nursery Research. 2003 Open House (Program and Projects).
- Dirr, M. A. 2003. Field day musings. University of Georgia, Department of Horticulture Open House/Field Day - 2003.
- Dirr, M. A. 2002. Which viburnums resist deer browsing? NMPRO 18(10):12-13, 81.
- Dirr, M. A. 2002. In search of a perfect Hydrangea. NMPRO 18(6):16-17, 95-96.
- Dirr, M. A. 2002. The jury is still out on southeastern St.-John's-worts. NMPRO 18(4):14-15, 77-80.
- Dirr, M. A. 2002. New-plant gold rush: Have we lost our way? NMPRO 18(2):77-78, 80.
- Dirr, M. A. 2002. Woody plant improvement at the University of Georgia: Advances in Hydrangea breeding and selection. Landscape Plant News 13(2):5-9.
- Dirr, M. A. 2002. These spring-blooming varieties worth a try. The AJC-Home & Garden Section, Thurs., April 11, 2002.
- Dirr, M. A. 2002. The art and science of plant introduction. Proc. Intern. Plant Prop. Soc. Vol. 51:42-43.
- Adkins, J. A., M. A. Dirr, and O. M. Lindstrom. 2002. Cold hardiness potential of ten Hydrangea taxa. J. Environ. Hort. 20:171-174.
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