Announcing the Development of a New, Fragrant Variety of Chrysanthemum - the Aromum-Realizing a fragrance missing from traditional chrysanthemums-

Chubu Electric (President: Akihisa Mizuno; Location: 1, Higashi-shincho, Higashi Ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture), in cooperation with Hiroshima University (President: Toshimasa Asahara; Location: 1-3-2 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture), has developed a new variety of chrysanthemum, called Aromum, that has a sweet fragrance.

The Chubu region is a vital area for chrysanthemum production. In particular, Aichi Prefecture is the nation's top producer of chrysanthemums. About half of these are cultivated using "light culture" that exposes the chrysanthemums to electric light after dark, for year-round production.

In recent years, due to increased production in other prefectures and to an increase in imported flowers, production in Aichi Prefecture has decreased. Because of this, our company sought to develop a new kind of chrysanthemum to provide added value and help revitalize the region, and research was begun. The Aromum was developed through a process of trial-and-error, by cross-pollinating traditional and wild chrysanthemum varieties and cultivating them both in test tubes and outdoors. Eventually we achieved a chrysanthemum with a much-improved fragrance. In April of this year, we applied for a variety registration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for the Aromum, which has the fragrance traditional chrysanthemums lack.

The Aromum can be cultivated just as traditional chrysanthemums are, and by regulating their exposure to electric light, the blooming period can be regulated as well. Its characteristic sweet fragrance can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors, from potted plants or cut flowers. It also helps cleanse the air of formaldehyde, one of the causes of sick-house syndrome, and is excellent at absorbing nitrogen dioxide, a major source of air pollution. Our expectation is that it will function practically to help improve the environment, in addition to its decorative uses.

Potted Aromums will be available through the Kanie Hachimono Bukai (Amagun, Aichi Prefecture) at the Toyoake Flower Auction Market (Toyoake City, Aichi Prefecture) from about Aug. 20, while JA Aichi Chuo plans to ship cut flowers to Kanto area markets in the fall. In addition, they will be planted in the herb garden at the Menard Aoyama Resort (Iga City, Mie Prefecture), and should be blooming by October of this year.

Aromum Features

1. Has a sweet fragrance that traditional chrysanthemums lack

When compared with traditional chrysanthemums (white chrysanthemums), the Aromum has one-fifth the characteristic chrysanthemum fragrance ingredient. In addition, about 10-40 percent* of Aromums have a sweet fragrance not found in traditional chrysanthemums, a fragrance reminiscent of the sweet-and-sour smell of plum blossoms and the fragrance of hyacinths.

*This will differ depending on such things as the variety of Aromum (12 varieties are being registered), how they are raised and how the fragrance is measured.

2. Strong environmental purification ability

Formaldehyde is one cause of sick-house syndrome. While the decorative plant devil's ivy is able to remove large amounts of formaldehyde from the air, the Aromum can remove about 1.5 times that amount. The sunflower is able to absorb a great deal of nitrogen dioxide, a major source of air pollution, and the Aromum equals this ability.