Suntory goes blue over carnations
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Florigene's first blue hue carnation -- 'FLORIGENE Moondust'
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(CNN) -- Japanese beverage producer Suntory Ltd. is to buy Australian bioventure Florigene to develop blue carnations, the company says.
Suntory hopes to bolster its botanical research capabilities with the purchase of a 97.5 percent stake in Florigene from its parent, Nufarm Ltd.
Over the past 15 years Florigene has developed, patented and refined technology in the genetic modification of flowers.
In 1995, Florigene scientists succeeded in implanting the 'Blue Gene' (from the petunia flower) into carnations, creating the first blue range carnation.
According to the company, colors in the blue range -- mauve, blue, and purple -- are believed to represent ideas such as spirituality, integrity, passion and tranquility.
The most popular flower species including roses, carnations, gerberas and chrysanthemums lack the 'Blue Gene' to produce blue hues.
Florigene has annual sales of around 230 million yen (about $2.1 million). It began a project with Suntory in 1990 to develop blue roses but has yet to produce them.
