Legacies of Robert Basye and Ralph Moore: historical perspective
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2019 International Society for Horticultural Science. All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Robert E. Basye and later by Ralph Moore are responsible for the Texas A&M University Rose Breeding and Genetics program. Dr. Basyes breeding goal was to develop the bush on which to hang those wonderful flowers. To this end, he explored various species as sources of good adaptation and disease resistance and developed amphidiploids from these so he could cross them with the tetraploid commercial garden roses. In addition, he employed some native North American species (Rosa carolina and Rosa virginiana) in his breeding. Although he was not a commercial breeder, several of his releases such as Basyes Purple, Belindas Dream, Basyes Legacy and Basyes Blueberry are still commercially available. In the early 1990s, Dr. Basye endowed the Chair in Rose Genetics and the Texas A&M University Rose Breeding and Genetics Program was born. About 2010, Ralph Moore enriched the program by contributing his rose germplasm to the program. Ralph Moore was a commercial rose breeder who was known as the Father of the Miniature Rose. Although more than half of his 500 rose releases were miniature roses, he also worked on a range of other rose types (climbers, floribundas, and shrub) and unique rose traits (striped flowers, mossy foliage and flowers, crested sepals, and halo flowers). As did Dr. Basye, he incorporated a range of species into the modern rose germplasm. Throughout his career, he was the recipient of many honors reflecting his excellent breeding work but also his enthusiasm in sharing his experiences and knowledge with others. Ralph Moores generosity and enthusiasm about sharing his germplasm and knowledge is best characterized by what he frequently said, the only things that I saved are those that I gave away. Both Dr. Basye and Ralph Moore built their success on those that came before them and subsequently shared with the rose world. As a result, the world of rose breeding has been significantly influenced by their work
