Texas A&M University Rose Breeding and Genetics Program
Situated in hot and humid College Station, Texas, we are faced with numerous growing challenges. The high humidity fosters pathogens that cause powdery mildew, Cercospora, and blackspot. Local water contains high amounts of sodium producing a concrete-like structure in our already hard claypan soil and a pH as high as 13 in some areas of Brazos County. The average rose struggles, to say the least.
But who can resist the world’s favorite flower? Certainly, not all of us and certainly not other gardeners in other rose-unfriendly climates. Presently we are meeting the challenges of our environment by mining the vast genetic diversity that exists in the genus Rosa. Our goal is to breed beautiful, carefree roses that gardeners in all climates can enjoy.
We hope the links on our website will be educational and enjoyable for you. You can see what we’re doing, how, and why. On the pages within you can explore our story, how we started, and keep up to date with what the program is doing.