RAJSHAHI, Aug 18: Gerbera flower is being successfully grown through tissue culture in the district.
Gerbera is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (daisy) family which is also commonly known as African daisy.
Gerbera is very popular and widely used as a decorative garden plant or as cut flowers. The domesticated cultivars are mostly a result of a cross between Gerbera jamesonii and another South African species Gerbera Viridifolia.
The cross is known as Gerbera Hybrida. Thousands of cultivars exist. They vary greatly in shape and size.
Colours include white, yellow, orange, red, and pink. The centre of the flower is sometimes black. Often the same flower can have petals of several different colours.
Gerbera is also important commercially. It is the fifth most used cut flower in the world (after rose, carnation, chrysanthemum and tulip).
Matiur Rahman, researcher of the department of Botany of Rajshahi University pioneered the tissue culture of Gerbera flower. Professor Dr. M. Monjur Hossain of Rajshahi University supervised the research work.
Matiur Rahman mentioned Gerbera is a globally famed decorative flower. It has a tremendous commercial demand in the country and abroad and already it is being cultivated successfully in various places of the country.
The flower is attractive to look for its varieties of bright colour, shape and longevity. The flower cultivators of Rajshahi would be able to purchase the sapling of Gerbera flower from Akafuji Nursery at Tk 50 per piece.
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