ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on ornamentals grown under protection and for indoor decoration. Because most of them are flowers, their cultivation is commonly called 'floriculture'. Cellular engineering in ornamentals are mainly focused on micropropagation and haploid and polyploidy breeding. Genetic modification (GM) has been used for the development of varieties of numerous important food species. Though not at the same scale, there are also research efforts in the field of ornamental plants for varietal development, especially for flowering ornamentals. Chrysanthemum is one of the most important ornamental plants in the world. Like rose and carnation, molecular breeding for the blue chrysanthemum is on-going. Then again, molecular technology has been widely used to improve other aspects of chrysanthemum. Currently, the Petunia-chalcone synthase (CHS), an event with an altered flower colour developed by Beijing University, is the lone petunia event commercially available. Ornamental Biosciences in Germany is focusing on improved abiotic stress resistance, specifically frost tolerance.
