Breeding

BLOOMZ in conjunction with New Zealand Crown Research Institute Crop and Food Research and another New Zealand floricultural company has been breeding Sandersonia and it's associated hybrids since 1993.

SANZA Limited, the research company formed by the three partners has focused on several objectives:

• Breeding variants of Sandersonia
• Cross breeding with associated species Gloriosa and Littonia
• Developing tissue culture and propagation protocols for the new products
• Other associated research such as shortening dormancy on seed and tubers

The first breakthrough came with the breeding of SANTONIA 'Golden Lights' an intergeneric cross between Sandersonia and Littonia. This has been patented (PVR) in New Zealand and is now being trialed as a commercial cut flower.

A cross between Sandersonia and Gloriosa is also under trial (SG84) and is also being evaluated.

Several colour variants of straight Sandersonia have been isolated and a process of continual improvement is underway - red and white variants being the target of current research.

GE Free

We note that all breeding to date, whilst being assisted by laboratory techniques like embryo rescue and somaclonal variation has been done by conventional rather than molecular techniques, and is totally FREE of genetic manipulation. Apart from being expensive, the GE approach has not met with general public approval.