Agriculture
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week agoInside the secretive and lucrative world of orchid breeding
Genetic markers enable early screening of young orchid plants, speeding selective breeding despite complex, unpredictable commercial orchid genetics.
On a cold morning in December 2024, florist Madeline King was on a buying trip to her local wholesaler when a wave of dizziness nearly knocked her over. As rows of roses seemed to rush past her, she tried to focus. She quickly picked the blooms she needed and left. I'm not doing this any more, she thought. That month, after eight years, she closed her Minneapolis-based florist.