Hybrid Varieties

Hybrid Varieties

Norma had worked tirelessly for two nights, creating dozens of virtual hybrid varieties until she found one that could endure the rain and prolonged rainy seasons. The pure happiness she had felt when genetic analysis confirmed the stability of the hybrid could not be rivaled.

She was aware of the fact that the day she would present her hybrid to the world, she would be hailed as a hero and secured her place forever among elite botanical geneticists. She also knew as well that the exponential growth of thousands of seeds, including dozens of exotic ornamentals had yet to prove their viability.

But as soon as she reached the bay, she saw that the flowers that remained on stems were dried black and brown. Most of the blooms had already fallen into the humidifiers below them. Likewise, the unharvested vegetables and fruits were rotting on their vines.

(Excerpt from The Rain, the world acclaimed novel by Elena and George B.)

Genetic analysis, hybrid varieties. Illustration : Megan Jorgensen (Elena)