"That's the nickname for the roses in the Middle Ages

ROSES BLUE

FLOS Florum. "That's the nickname for the roses in the Middle Ages. Nickname which means "flower of all flowers" is a kind of affirmation of roses over the centuries become a legend. Roses are not only charismatic, but also full of passion and mystery. No wonder, who had allegedly rose 35 million years old that, used as a symbol for many things, ranging from religion, solidarity, to love.

Mother Mary (Siti Maryam), mother of Prophet Isa a.s. pointed roses as a symbol of earthly and heavenly perfection. In India, the rose is a symbol of the mystical. According to Hinduism, Goddess Lakshmi, goddess-born beauty source of rose petals. Meanwhile, in almost all parts of the world, the rose is often used as a symbol of love and expression of feelings. In short, the rose has become the main subject and a favorite flower, even since 5000 years ago.

Charisma rose not only because of the shape and color are beautiful, but also diuapkannya aromas. A combination of shapes, colors, and scent of roses can create a magical and mystical effects of manipulating the feelings, perceptions, and passionate person. Humans seemed never satisfied by the roses. The demand for flowers nicknamed the queen of flowers kept bubbling. After thousands of years humans enjoy a variety of attractive colors of roses, red, yellow, pink, or white, rose fans disturbed by the question, "Why are there no blue roses?"

"Holy grail"

Yes, the blue rose and a kind of Holy Grail in a Christian community. Holy Grail or the sacred chalice that Jesus used in the last supper with 12 of his students, is believed by some Catholics still exists today. While there, but hard to find. People were made curious, the Holy Grail really exist? If there is, where it is?

1840, British researchers horticulture and Belgium offered a reward of 500,000 francs to anyone who can produce a blue rose. Since then, "hunt" was done by researchers to find the Holy Grail, the blue rose.

In the 20th century, rose hybrids have been produced with the scope of extraordinary colors. In fact, including blue rose violet (purple) and gray. Violet blue roses findings were greeted by the researchers and lovers of the rose with great enthusiasm. They are optimistic, that's the first step toward the discovery of roses really blue (true blue). In fact, in the early 21st century, violet blue rose had been named as the "flower of the year". Unfortunately, roses are not blue violet blue blue truth. "There are shades of purple and gray," said Ir. Nursuhud, DEA, horticulture professor and researcher Unpad Faculty of Agriculture. According to Nursuhud, conventional hybridization could not produce a blue rose because roses are genetically unable to produce delphinidin or a pigment responsible for blue color.

Horticultural experts argue, the emergence of violet-blue color is more because of the "unusual variation" of cyanidin (red pigment). That is, findings violet blue roses is not the right way to produce blue roses. Until the end of the Florigene and Suntory researchers to answer. After doing research for 14 years, in 2004, Suntory researchers managed to find a blue rose through genetic engineering. Blue color of the flowers are all from delphinidin pigments in which there is no natural roses. "The findings of this blue rose happening just when we believe the findings would have been impossible. But, we continue to do so until finally achieved, "said Nobutada Saji, President of Suntory during a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, two years ago.

To produce a blue rose, the experts "borrow" the blue pigment (delphinidin) of interest pansi by applying RNAi technology. However, blue roses Suntory findings experts have not really blue, but blue-violet (purple). However, keys and techniques to produce the blue color of the pigment delphinidin was found. The researchers are now working hard to produce a blue rose with blue sky. Further research is needed to produce the sky-blue roses. According to them, should have added chemicals to produce a brighter color. So, to enjoy the blue rose, we still have to wait .