Basic Ways in Which Plant Trials Help Gardeners and Breeders

Gardeners, horticulturists and other plant enthusiasts often dedicate their time and resources to creating new varieties – whether it's for the sheer beauty of it or for modifying/strengthening certain traits, to affect the productivity or adaptability within a species. The best help they can get comes from professional plant breeders.

Plant trials as means of testing

The plant trial method is essential when a new variety is in the making. For this to be recognised as such, it has to be distinct and also to prove that it can stay stable with every generation. Perennials must display this trait, year after year. Uniformity is yet another trait that has to be exhibited by the variety created. The plant trials performed by professionals help develop and test the qualities needed. These are carried out in a nursery, which is the ideal environment for controlling the factors involved.

The right environment

A plant will not be the same when you place it in different conditions. For example, it may thrive in a cold and moist climate but struggle in dry heat. Oftentimes, the differences don't even need to be that extreme. The environment with all the factors in it play a great role. The soil is one of those factors and a plant trial will cater to this aspect as well.

Trials can be held in special gardens, but also on university grounds and, of course, the aforementioned nurseries. The breeder will observe the plants and their evolution in the given conditions and test various approaches. The goal is to figure out what works best for the said plant variety. When this is finally working, the breeder has identified the growing requirements and can start developing the variety, striving to obtain uniformity and stability.

Hitting the target

Through a professionally done plant trial, the gardener or horticulturist can make sure they are developing a plant with different features, that sets it apart from the rest and can be sold accordingly. They will not have to commit to the costs of production unless they are certain of this. Afterward, they can cater to the plant variety protection aspect and also get it patented. From this point on, the business is in the hands of the initial gardener.