The North American Lily Society (NALS) recognizes the importance of research to the preservation of Lily (Lilium) species and to the continuing advances in lily breeding throughout the world. The formation of the Research Trust Fund Committee (RTFC) in 1989 and the development of the Research Trust Fund has strengthened the NALS commitment to engage with the future of the genus Lilium, both as a garden star and in the wild.
The RTFC awards grants to fund research projects by private persons, garden related corporations, universities, botanical gardens, arboreta, and other not for profit research institutions. Applications may be submitted through out the year, but will be evaluated at meetings of the Committee, usually held in January and at the summer Show and Conference. Grant awards will be announced soon after.
Projects should be in the areas of:
- Wild lily species conservation, ecology, taxonomy, propagation, etc.
- Lily breeding by traditional or technologically advanced means.
- Lily disease or insect control.
- Lily culture, potted or in ground, including effects of growing media, nutrition, pH, salinity, growth regulators, etc.
- Other subjects not mentioned may also be considered.
Previously funded projects have included:
- Chromosome counts of popular breeding stock cultivars.
- Biological control of the imported Red Lily Beetle.
- Study of the life cycle of the Red Lily Beetle in America.
- Advanced DNA Sequencing of Lilium species to establish the Lilium family tree.
- Studies of gene introgression in wide crosses and induced tetraploids.
- Study of, propagation of, and re-introduction of rare species back into their traditional habitat.
- Genome size comparisons of species and hybrid cultivars by Flow Cytometry.
Funding for grants will be considered on the bases of value to the body of knowledge of Lilium, the qualifications of the applicant, and the availability of funds. The amount of the grant will vary, depending on the applicant’s requirements and adjudged value of the research. The RTFC reserves the right to partially fund a project or to co-sponsor the project with another supporter. Research funds may be disbursed in two or more installments. Nonperformance by a grantee will result in revocation of grant approval and cancellation of access to further funding.
Successful applicants are required to return a summation of their research (annually, if it is a multi-year project) in a form publishable in the NALS Quarterly Bulletin within a reasonable time after the project is concluded. Such report must be in lay language, understandable by our gardening members. As well, researchers are encouraged to publish their research in reviewed journals, with a credit line given to the North American Lily Society’s support.
How can you obtain a Research Grant?
If you are interested in obtaining a research grant for a project within our research parameters, you may download the Guidelines for a Research Grant and fill out the Grant Application form included with the Guidelines. Applications or questions may be sent to rtfc@lilies.org.
Previous funding for the RTFC has been through the generous support of individual donors, Regional Lily Societies, the donors and bidders at the Research Trust Fund Benefit Auction, held at the annual Summer International Lily Show and Conference, and a share of the earnings of NALS investments.
How can you support this Research?
If you would like to financially support such worthwhile research for the preservation of the wild lily species and the continuing advances in lily breeding and culture, please click the Donate button below to make a contribution. Donations to the Research Trust Fund through the North American Lily Society, a 501c3 non-profit educational organization, are tax deductible in the United States.
Arthur Evans
Research Trust Fund Committee Chair
North American Lily Society