oronia B

Product: :  and hybrids : B. crassipes × B. heterophylla ‘Lipstick’

Quality specifications for Australian wildflowers ,

. Phytophthora and ‘Purple Rain’ ‘Purple and and and

. Foliage can be affected affected be can Foliage . Boronia , Cascade’

, and superior selections,

Rhizoctonia and and Other products specification which this to applied: can be generally ‘Moon Glow’ Other (e.g. , Boronia such as hybrids and ‘Cameo’) and Jared’ ‘Purple family, which includes includes which family, quality. reduces harvest after or during stress Water field the from quickly moved be to needs Boronia quickly wilt stems Stressed shed. packing cool a to shrivel. and making again, up close to tend flowers Overmature and immature between distinguish to difficult it ‘Lipstick’ overmature, When stems. overmature white. turn to tend flowers Pythium botrytis. to susceptible are flowers and rust, by not do currently USA, the as such markets, Some the to belonging or flowers accept (poorly 7–11 days handled life: vase Typical only 3–4 days). last for may Boronia especially if the Export the vase life, can reduce transport the product not cold, conditions are has dried or transport out, takes long. too Low winter night temperatures (6–15 °C) are are °C) (6–15 temperatures night winter Low temperatures (low flowering initiate to needed and development of speed the optimise warmer while initiated, buds of number the abortion). flower to lead may temperatures to soils moist drained, well deep, needs Boronia and systems root shallow have Plants well. grow conditions dry and hot from protected be to need the during irrigated well and windbreaks by Growers growing. actively when months warmer and irrigated well are plants that ensure to need to autumn to through flowering from fertilised Grow-through harvest. at length stem maximise Careful problem. a be can tips stem the at to lead-up the in nutrition crop of management are Stems this. minimise to help may flowering the maximise to flowering at cm 35 to back pruned far too back stems (cutting crop year’s following ). the kill will range a and nematodes to susceptible are Plants fungi the by caused diseases root of September–October, season: September–October, Flowering season in flowering The depending on locality. locality is short, given any typically 2–3 weeks. including ‘Stella’ including Boronia is very sensitive to drying out. out. drying to sensitive very is Boronia morning, early the in water into straight Pick the cool quickly and hydration maintain minimise to carefully Handle flowers. drop. flower (brown (brown is the main main the is was introduced introduced was Boronia B. megastigma B. Boronia heterophylla Boronia e.g. ‘Purple Jared’ Jared’ ‘Purple e.g. B Left: Left: colours, of range a in available is oronia this like look bunches Typical Right: into Britain in the 1840s; and bush-picked boronia boronia bush-picked and 1840s; the in Britain into to have Other 1800s. the since sold has potential floriculture their in limited been date propagation. in difficulties to owing within harvests marketable produce will Plants short relatively a have but planting of months 12–15 years). 5–6 (typically life economic south- the are areas growing main the Australia, In Victoria central NSW, of coast south the WA, of west is boronia Overseas, Tasmania. of coast east the and Zealand, New including countries, several in grown Israel. and (California) USA the boronia), grown for its unusual brown flowers, is an is flowers, brown unusual its for grown boronia), oils. essential of source important bell- pink, vibrant scented, slightly has ‘Lipstick’ short on held long, mm 8–10 flowers shaped stalks. pendulous an as cultivation in history long a has Boronia plant: ornamental It is a small woody shrub endemic to WA. Several Several WA. to endemic shrub woody small a is It superior with available are hybrids and cultivars from range, colour extended an and features flower blackish deep to pink, hot to pale lemon, and white foliage and flowers Both Jared’). (‘Purple purple Indeed, aromatic. are Boronia is a filler product grown for its dainty, dainty, its for grown product filler a is Boronia along clustered densely flowers 4-petalled small, stems. the flowers. cut for commercially grown species

Product: Boronia Botanical name: Boronia heterophylla and hybrids Cultivar: B. crassipes × B. heterophylla ‘Lipstick’ Product: Boronia STGSF A E O OPENING

The stages shown apply to the product at market entry. Pay attention to the weather, time of year, and mode and duration of transport, because the flowers will continue to open during transport. You must consult with Stage 1 your target market Stage 2 Stage 3 Immature stage, unacceptable to ensure that the Early stage, preferred by only Prime stage for export and to markets: flower buds flowers arrive at the a few markets, e.g. for export: domestic markets: 50%–70% immature and closed (will not desired stage. most flower buds still closed of flowers open open after harvest)

Common defects

Common defects to avoid at market entry: n L eaf and flower drop n S parse flowering or missing flowers n O vermature (faded to white) flowers n W ilting stems n D ried-out flowers n D amaged, yellow or discoloured Grow-through Wilting flowers – avoid by Poor-quality foliage harvesting at correct maturity and by avoiding water stress after n P resence of picking diseases (e.g. rust), insects or feeding damage n M issing sections of foliage n G row-through

Sparse flowering at stem tip Broken stem ends – trim evenly Flower drop – do not market; Flowers bleached owing to – discard before marketing avoid by treating bunches with overmaturity – discard anti-ethylene silver solution Stage 4 Stage 5 Late stage, suitable for only Mature stage, unaccepted by some domestic markets: all many markets: flowers closing flowers open but some starting again and turning white as to turn white with age they age

For comparison: just right and slightly Flower development from immature bud immature stem at left to overmature where flower closes up again as it ages

Rust-infected shoot (left) compared with healthy shoot

Insect-damaged flower Buds at stem tip have not Rust disease on leaves Close-up of rust-infected shoot Bleached and browning flowers – discard stem if a large developed – discard – discard; avoid by applying – discard number of flowers are appropriate fungicide treatments damaged before harvest Product: Boronia

FLOWERS GRADING AND BUNCHING

Appearance Flower colour clear and uniformly deep pink. Grading Reject any contaminated stems. (‘Lipstick’) True-to-type of the cultivar ‘Lipstick’. Sort stems according to flower maturity, length and Flowers clustered densely and massed evenly along and thickness. around the entire marketed stem. Minimum visible. Stem length According to market demand.

When to 50%–70% of individual flowers open at the base of the Bunching The number of stems per bunch varies, and is harvest stem, and those at the tip showing colour (immature determined by their length and by market and buyer flower buds will not open after harvest). requirements. Avoid harvesting when flowers are wet. Presentation is important. Stay consistent for the grade and make all bunches the same. Damage Not faded. Use 1 tie near the base (3 cm from bottom). No wilting. No flower drop. Especially for export, stems should be approximately the Minimum number of flowers deformed or damaged same diameter within a bunch, with the ends aligned. (including mechanical damage). Stems per Different markets require different bunches – broadly: Contamination Product free of grit and soil, weeds or weed seeds, living bunch or dead insects, and signs of insects or spiders, such as Stem length (cm) Av. no. of stems per webbing. bunch (typical bunch weight, g) Pests and No insects, insect damage or disease. diseases 80 10 (400)

LEAVES 70 10 (400)

Appearance Fresh, mid green and crisp. 60 10 (350) 50 10 (250–300) Damage Not dull or wilted. No leaf drop. No yellowing. Minimum leaf damage or blemish. 40 10 (250–300) Minimum evidence of pests, such as webbing, and disease. No evidence of rust. Sleeves Avoid sleeves, which increase humidity and favour Free of visible chemical residues. botrytis.

STEMS HOLDING AND STORAGE

Appearance Well branched and balanced. No irregularly branched Cooling Effective cooling soon after harvest is important to stems. retaining quality and maximising vase life. The preferred Rigid and strong enough to support blooms, without option is: being too woody and bulky. • Cool, process, cool – for example, remove field heat Bend <15°. by cooling flowers immediately by placing in a cool No obvious grow-through, where the shoots at the stem room at 2–4 °C in buckets of postharvest solution, tip grow through the flowers: maximum 3 cm tip growth process flowers (bunch, grade), and then cool to 2–4 beyond flowers (but soft tips will wilt after harvest). °C by either forced-air cooling (if boxed) or holding overnight in a cool room. Leaves are usually stripped from the lower 8 cm – check customer requirements. Forced-air cooling of packed flowers is ideal for large volumes of product. Neatly cut end.

Length According to market demand. Temperature Hold in a high-humidity cool room (95%) at 2–4 °C for and humidity up to 2 days, but preferably much less. RECOMMENDED HANDLING AT HARVEST Disinfestation Do this before a long (overnight) anti-ethylene pulse (see ‘Common or During harvest, it is critical to minimise drying out and exposure to heat. It is postharvest after a short pulse (room temperature). better to harvest early in the day, as long as the stems are not wet (which can problems’ below) encourage botrytis). Preferably pick into clean potable water, ideally with added registered biocide or a reputable commercial postharvest solution, and transport promptly to a cool, shaded packing shed (within 30 minutes after picking). Handle stems carefully, as flowers fall off easily. HOLDING AND STORAGE cont’d COMMON POSTHARVEST PROBLEMS Refer to Postharvest Manual* for general advice. Anti-ethylene ‘Lipstick’ and other B. heterophylla selections are ethylene treatment sensitive. There are two alternative anti-ethylene Fungal decay Effective preharvest management of botrytis with JN: 9884 • Layout by Wild Poppy Design • Edited Stevens, by Editing, Matthew ScienceScape Sydney treatments: in storage due fungicides is essential, especially from bud initiation 1. Use a commercial anti-ethylene silver solution, e.g. to botrytis until harvest. Chrysal AVB, as these have been shown to increase (grey mould) Effective management of insect pests before harvest is vase life (for more details, refer to Postharvest essential, especially within the 4 weeks before harvest. Manual*). Treat bunches according to the product Insects Use preharvest insecticide sprays to reduce the pest label (concentration, temperature and duration of (for export) population at harvest. treatment). Uptake may be less effective if flowers are Postharvest disinfestation dips are not recommended. poorly hydrated before pulsing. If necessary (e.g. for export), treat flowers with a Do your own trials to optimise the procedure: over- registered insecticide fumigant with stems in water. pulsing can have adverse effects (e.g. rapid closing and shrivelling of flowers). Ethylene ‘Lipstick’ is sensitive to ethylene, and anti-ethylene 2. Alternatively, you can add EthylBloc sachets to cartons sensitivity treatment is recommended. Signs of ethylene damage when the flowers are packed (see ‘Packaging’ below). and anti- include flower wilting and drop and leaf drop. See ‘Anti-ethylene treatment’ opposite. Other boronias Postharvest solution: After a short anti-ethylene ethylene Postharvest treatment may also be sensitive to ethylene, and trials of anti- solutions treatment, transfer flowers to clean water, preferably ethylene treatment are recommended. However, with added registered biocide or a reputable B. muelleri ‘Sunset Serenade’ and B. clavata are not commercial postharvest solution, and cool to 2–4 °C. ethylene sensitive. Hold in solution for 8–16 hours before marketing. Holding solution: Same as the postharvest solution. Drying out Wilted bunches can be revived by putting the whole stem under water for 2–3 hours. Bunches can also be Longer-term Boronia does not tolerate long-term storage. Sell quickly. misted to keep them from drying out. However, these storage treatments will increase the risk of botrytis.

PACKAGING Messages for importers and wholesalers Pack bunches of the same size (stem number, weight or thickness) together. n Recut stems and place into fresh water containing a reputable commercial Put bunches of similar length together, and ensure all bunches meet this postharvest solution, registered biocide or flower food. specification. n Cool product before marketing or sending on and keep it cool and dry. Pack boxes according to customer requirements. n Maintain good hygiene and keep containers clean. Pack bunches firmly but ‘springy’ so the product will not move and be damaged. Packing too tightly can damage flowers during transit. Messages for retailers Pack bunches head to tail. n Recut stems and place into fresh water containing cut-flower food or a Use boxes with holes to allow forced-air cooling. Leave ventilation holes open registered biocide. Flowers can be misted to prevent drying out, but this to reduce humidity, ethylene build-up, botrytis growth and flower drop. will increase the risk of botrytis. Do not line boxes with plastic, as this will increase humidity and the risk of n Use clean buckets and containers for displays. botrytis. Use paper if desired. Add EthylBloc anti-ethylene sachets to the cartons if required, according to n Do not display flowers in areas that are exposed to full sun, draughts, high the manufacturer’s instructions, when the flowers are packed (efficacy may temperatures or vehicle exhausts, and preferably do not display near fruit vary depending on packing situation). and vegetables. Use refrigerated displays if possible. Cool flowers to 2–4 °C before transport. n Tell the customer how to care for the flowers and emphasise the need for cut-flower food in solutions. Give the customer a sachet of cut-flower LABELLING AND DOCUMENTATION food to take home. Suggest that the customer re-cut the stem ends every Label boxes and buckets as recommended in Postharvest Manual* or as couple of days. required by customer. Messages for consumers Ensure box contents are exactly the same as specified in the n Keep vase filled with the correct solution of cut-flower food. Check daily, documentation and on the end of the box. as flowers can use a lot of water. If cut-flower food is not used, change the water at least every second day. Always use clean vases and clean water. TRANSPORT Ideally, cut 1–2 cm from stem ends every couple of days. Refrigerated vehicle at 2–4 °C. Preferably don’t transport with ripening fruit. n Do not display in areas that are exposed to full sun, draughts or high temperatures. Keep as cool as possible without freezing.

The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion SUPPORTING INDUSTRY PARTNER: and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, Authors: Bettina Gollnow and Dr Ross Worrall. Photographs by: Dr Ross Worrall and Lowan Turton. to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly This publication is one of a series of Quality Specifications for Australian Wildflowers. from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the ISSN 1440-6845. ISBN 978-1-74254-010-8. RIRDC Publication No. 10/037. www.rirdc.gov.au authors or contributors. *The Postharvest Manual is the manual ‘Postharvest Handling of Australian Flowers from Australian Native Plants and Related Species’, 2nd edition, 2010. ISBN 978-1-74254-000-9. RIRDC Publication No.10/027. © Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. Requests concerning reproduction and rights Both publications were developed by RIRDC Project No. PRJ-000331. should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165.