India: Scientists at IHBT develop thornless rose

Every rose has its thorn. The saying seems to have lost its meaning in Himachal Pradesh. The Institute of Himalayan Bio-resource Technology (IHBT) here has developed a variety of rose, for the first time in the country, whose thorns don't stick out.

"A thornless variety of red rose named Himalayan Wonder has been developed by the institute after three years of research," IHBT director P.S. Ahuja told IANS.

He said it was only variety in the country sans thorns.

"Scientists have also developed a pink-coloured rose from the Himalayan Wonder variety. Now work is on for mass multiplication of the red variety," he said.

The institute has introduced some high-value ornamental like tulips, bird of paradise and double tube rose in the region. It has also made popular low cost greenhouses for floriculture trade.

Many pockets in Solan, Shimla, Sirmaur, Mandi, Kullu, Bilaspur and Chamba districts in Himachal Pradesh have earned a name in flower business.

Farmers are growing commercial varieties of marigold, carnation, tulip, lilium, gladiolus, chrysanthemum and rose. Approximately 860 hectares of land is under flower cultivation and over 3,000 farmers are involved in it.