History & Biotechnology

'Lilli Marlene' in vitro

Floribunda rose 'Lilli Marlene' (registered Korlima) and synonymous with 'Lilli Marleen', 'Lily Marlene' and 'Lili Marlene' was introduced in 1959 by Reimer Kordes, in Germany. Her parentage is: ('Our Princess' x 'Rudolph Timm') x 'Ama'. In 1978 'Lilli Marlene' was brought to Kaunas Botanical Garden, Lithuania. The Climbing rose 'Lilli Marlene' was introduced in 1983 from Pekmez in France.

The very first research on in vitro propagation of rose was announced  by D.R.Davies in 1980. The first induction of flowering 'Lilli Marlene' rose in vitro in laboratory conditions was achieved in 1996 by Lithuanian biotech-scientists. Since 2001 various R&D activities of micro-propagation and induction of flowering 'Lilli Marlene' in vitro have been implemented at Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology of Lithuanian Forest Research institute. The research results revealed that near 80 percent of young roses' shoots can be induced in vitro to produce the flower buds, but not all buds are flowering under the same conditions. The further research was directed to synchronize the flowering in vitro and to find the optimum conditions to produce the buds of micro-propagated 'Lilli Marlene' shoots. 

Since 2010 the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology along with further R&D activities is managed by private Lithuanian company UAB "Euromediena".