Development of Intergeneric Rootstocks for Christmas Flowering Verticordia a New Christmas Flower
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Development of Intergeneric Rootstocks for Christmas Flowering Verticordia A new Christmas flower MARCH 2013 RIRDC Publication No. 12/110 Development of Intergeneric Rootstocks for Christmas Flowering Verticordia – a new Christmas flower by Dr Kevin Seaton March 2013 RIRDC Publication No. 12/110 RIRDC Project No. PRJ-000470 © 2013 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-74254-452-6 ISSN 1440-6845 Development of Intergeneric Rootstocks for Christmas Flowering Verticordia – A new Christmas flowe Publication No. 12/110 Project No. PRJ-000470 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion 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. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly 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 authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165. Researcher Contact Details Kevin Seaton Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Electronically published by RIRDC in March 2013 Print-on-demand by Union Offset Printing, Canberra at www.rirdc.gov.au or phone 1300 634 313 ii Foreword Traditionally, Australian flowers for export are available from autumn to late spring. There are few cultivated species that enable harvesting and export during the Christmas season, a time of high demand but low supply. Exporters have identified the need for a range of species that can be grown to meet this Christmas demand. The Australian native genus Verticordia has a good range of colours including reds and yellows to gold, with terminal flower forms. To ensure longevity and production of Verticordia as cutflower selections, grafting plants onto suitable rootstocks may be necessary. The availability of native plants displaying a range of new colours for the Christmas market will increase exports and provide growers with an opportunity to extend their production season, providing a range of flowers that can meet this Christmas market niche. The main benefactors will be Australian cutflower growers and nurseries who will be able to extend the season and range of colours available for sale. Growing these varieties will tend to even out the production season, enabling cutflower growers to spread their labour resources more evenly and to maintain staff in employment. Having flowers not normally available will also provide an opportunity for increased prices and profits to the flower industry. For nurseries it will provide a versatile flower that can be also used for the pot plant/amenity trade. The nursery trade is a significant industry and having new flower types will benefit sales. The key findings of this research are: • Verticordia species identified as suitable scions for grafting • rootstocks identified as best suited for Verticordia scions • flowering times and production of grafted Verticordia determined • postharvest characteristics of grafted flowers determined • management strategies provided for grafted flowers. Producing grafted plants involves added cost and producers need to weigh up the potential benefits of growing these flowers in terms of the increased returns through receiving higher prices during the Christmas period. It may involve added management costs with lower yields than traditional flowers such as waxflower. However, having a mix of flowers available for an extended time should increase business and establish a producer’s market share. This project was funded by RIRDC and the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, with in-kind contributions from the Australian flower industry. This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 2000 research publications and it forms part of our Wildflowers and Native Plants R&D program, which aims to improve existing products and develop new ones. Most of RIRDC’s publications are available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing online at www.rirdc.gov.au. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313. Craig Burns Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii About the Author Dr Kevin Seaton is a senior researcher in the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA). He has worked extensively for 25 years on increasing the efficiency and profitability of the Australian wildflower industry. He has developed a number of improvements in management techniques, particularly in nutrition and irrigation of wildflower species, as well as developing practical postharvest methods. Dr Seaton has been involved in breeding a number of new wildflowers that have helped to increase the competitiveness of the wildflower industry. He has also contributed to a number of RIRDC projects and RIRDC initiatives and reviews, such as coordinating the PMIS plan for wildflower research in Australia. He has published nationally and internationally in scientific papers and attended conferences presenting work on wildflowers. He is also an adjunct professor of the School of Agriculture and Environment at Curtin University. Acknowledgments The support, cooperation and assistance of the Australian waxflower industry are gratefully acknowledged. The technical support from Mr Chris McMullan for conducting the grafting experiments, Mr George Morris at DAFWA’s South Perth laboratories, and Mr John Berston for managing trials at Medina Research Station is greatly appreciated. Photos were taken by Kevin Seaton of DAFWA unless otherwise indicated. Permission is required before their use. The support of a number of staff at DAFWA is gratefully acknowledged. iv Contents Foreword ............................................................................................................................................... iii About the Author.................................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgments................................................................................................................................. iv Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ vii Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Objectives ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Methodology .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Procedures ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Grafting methods .............................................................................................................................. 4 Statistical analysis ............................................................................................................................. 5 1. Regelia ..................................................................................................................................... 6 2. Grafted Verticordia ................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Selecting Verticordia scions ............................................................................................ 8 2.2 Forming grafts ............................................................................................................... 10 2.3 Identifying suitable rootstocks ...................................................................................... 11 2.4 Grafting trials – performance of rootstocks .................................................................. 13 2.5 Grafting trials – performance of scions ......................................................................... 13 2.6 Field performance of grafted plants .............................................................................