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from the issue of January 26, 2006
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Campus research helps develop new decorative millets
BY VICKI MILLER, IANR NEWS SERVICE
Two new decorative millets that will debut in plant nurseries nationwide this spring are the latest generation of ornamentals from UNL plant breeding efforts.
| | The new decorative millets include (above) Jester and (at right) Purple Baron. Photos by Brett Hampton/IANR.
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The newcomers, named Jester and Purple Baron, are showy hybrids of pearl millet, or Pennisetum glaucum. They're cousins to Purple Majesty, the 2003 All-America Selections Gold Medal Award-winning millet developed by David Andrews, emeritus millet breeder at the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Ball Horticultural Co., a plant and seed wholesale supplier, sells seed and young plants of all three to the commercial greenhouse industry under a licensing agreement that provides royalties to the university.
Jester and Purple Baron come from similar breeding lines as their well-known relative. Andrews started work on several ornamental millets before retiring five years ago. Since then he has volunteered his time and breeding expertise to enhance favorable traits necessary for commercialization under the agreement with Ball.
"I made several different options and (the company) chose the ones they liked," he said.
Both are suited to gardens through the United States and southern Canada. Andrews' millet research was conducted in cooperation with IANR's Agricultural Research Division.
GO TO: ISSUE OF JANUARY 26
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Museum offers fossil days, disaster events
Series outlines ways to better serve students
Campus research helps develop new decorative millets
Engineering opens year with new lab celebration
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