Texas A&M Roses

s when Robert Basye, a retired Texas A&M University mathematician and dedicated rose breeder, came to the Department of Horticultural Sciences about continuing the work to which he had devoted his life time. His major goal was to produce “healthy rose bushes on which to hang those beautiful flowers” well adapted to our humid hot climate. He had a few roses released such as “Belinda’s Dream”, “Basye’s Blueberry”, Basye’s Legacy”, and “Basye’s Purple”. The Rose research program at TAMU focused on the development of heat tolerant and black spot resistant roses. Over the years we have collected roses, both commercial and wild species, and collaborated with Brent Pemberton at the AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Overton in their evaluation for adaptation and particularly their resistance to black spot. Other research the program has done includes 1.) improved procedures to germinate rose seed, 2.) the use of black spot resistant rose species in the development of black spot resistant commercial roses 3.) the examination of rose genetic diversity to better understand the origin and relationships among roses 4.) the genetic analyses to elucidate the inheritance of various traits 5.) the development of a genetic map and tools useful in improving our breeding approaches and the 6.) evaluation of roses for their heat tolerance (ability to flower well in the Texas summer). The breeding work with Dr. Basye’s rose germplasm has resulted various thornless roses with good disease resistance, a highly fragrant rose with good disease resistance, and some highly floriferous black spot resistant selections. Unfortunately, although these are nice roses the range of colors and flower types was limited. Fortunately, the Rose Program has recently received a gift of roses from Ralph Moore who is known throughout the world as the Father of the Miniature Rose. This was a perfect match because the Basye rose germplasm has good disease resistance but it does not have the diversity of ornamental traits that Ralph Moore had put together over his 70 year career. Initial work combining these rose groups has resulted in such releases such as as “Gina’s Rose” and “My Stars”. Ralph Moore’s purpose with this gift to Texas A&M University was to strengthen the existing rose breeding program so it could preserve and use the rose germplasm that he had developed over his long career and expand what we know about the rose. Ralph always approached any breeding challenge with the question, “Why not?”. He was an explorer and was always encouraging others to explore. This is what the TAMU program is dedicated to do as it works with the public, visiting scientists, and students through its Center of Excellence for Rose and Ornamental Breeding and Genetics. As both Robert Basye and Ralph Moore believed, the best way to continue with their long term goal of developing environmentally friendly and beautiful rose cultivars was to establish a privately endowed program at a University where the torch can be past. If you have any questions about our work here at Texas A&M University or how to support the Basye or Moore Rose Collection and Legacy, feel free to contact me ([email protected]) or Monica Delisa ([email protected]) of the Texas A&M University Development Foundation.