Have you ever questioned why you spend countless hours planting flowers in the spring only to have to re-plant them again next year? For those flower-enthusiasts who do not wish to uproot their garden annually, perennial plants, which survive for several years, are ideal; however, new research conducted by the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology may allow these particular gardeners to receive the beauty of their favorite annual flower while still maintaining the practicality of a perennial.

Annual plants, only survive for one growing season. Once an annual has rapidly grown and bloomed, the plant will germinate and come out before other plants, consequently eliminating any need to compete for light or food. As opposed to annuals, perennials can survive for many seasons because of structures that allow them to generate new stalks and leaves in the following season.

According to scientist Siegbert Melzer, the only difference between an annual and a perennial are two flower-inducing genes. If these genes are turned off, the annual plant will essentially transform into a perennial. When the gene is deactivated, the plant will not produce a flower, but will continue to grow and form flower at a later date.

During research, Melzer deactivated certain genes in an annual Arabidopsis plant, thus altering the plant to display secondary growth and would formation, which would transform the plant into a shrub-like Arabidopsis. Modifying the annual plant allows for storage of non-specialized cells and helps facilitate continuing growth.

Discussion Question: What are some drawbacks that could be encountered by mutating annual plants into perennials?

Link to article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081109193431.htm

Link to abstract: http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/ng.253.html