Varietal development and disease management of Ixodia achillaeoides for cutflower production A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Gail Barth and Barbara Hall South Australian Research and Development Institute March 2001 RIRDC Publication No 00/186 RIRDC Project No DAS-45A © 2001 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0 642 58217 3 ISSN 1440-6845 Varietal development and disease management of Ixodia achillaeoides for cutflower production Publication No. 00/186 Project No DAS-45A The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Gail Barth South Australian Research and Development Institute 2b Hartley Grove URRBRAE SA 5064 GPO Box 397 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Phone: 08 8303 9400 Fax: 08 8303 9424 Email: [email protected] RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in March 2001 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint ii Foreword Ixodia achillaeoides is a wildflower crop which has been bush harvested for many years and cultivated increasingly over the past 20 years. The main objective of this program was to increase the production levels of Ixodia daisy for export markets by overcoming varietal and production based problems which limited its uptake and expansion. To achieve this objective a varietal improvement and disease management program were commenced with the aim of providing improved varieties of Ixodia to industry. The varietal improvement program incorporated: the collection and preservation of varieties used by industry or in previous assessment programs (SARDI), the location and assessment of major native stands throughout SA and Victoria and collection of ‘type’ varieties, collection of variants and outstanding individual varieties in terms of appearance or vigour and a breeding program. By increasing the availability of varieties, this program aimed to: i. extend the harvest period, ii. provide new products for dried and fresh flower markets and iii. improve quality characteristics including stem length, floral appearance, post harvest life and disease resistance. Diseases of ixodia required identification, pathogenicity testing, prioritising and development of control measures to assure that ixodia production can proceed as a profitable venture. This report, a new addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 600 research publications, forms part of our Wildflowers and Native Plants R&D program which aims to improve the profitability, productivity and sustainability of the Australian wildflower and native plant industry. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: • downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Index.htm • purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Peter Core Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgments This project was financially supported by the Rural Industries Research and Development Institute. The authors also wish to thank The Banksia Company of Furner, SA (Mary and Tony Whitehead) and Cutting Flowers and Foliage of Millicent, SA (Heather and David Brown) for in-kind support of this project and managing trial sites. Appreciation is extended to all growers who contributed varieties for assessment, especially to Shane and Leila Huebner, Philip Dowling and Kylie Treble who assisted us in the location of new ixodia varieties and for their advice. The authors wish to especially acknowledge and thank the SARDI staff who participated in this project work through technical assistance: Shona Chinnock, Jan Niejalke, Midori Jones, Claudia Bonnielle, Robin McMahon, Roz Varcoe, Alex Freebairn, Samuel Burton, Kerryn O’Brien and Catherine Hitch. Associate researchers also contributed to this project including: Dr Greg Walker for undertaking the experimental and identification work on the nematodes, Dr. Trevor Wicks, SARDI Horticultural Pathology and his colleagues who assisted with pathogen identification, Dr. Bob Chinnock of the SA State Herbarium for botanical advice and Debra Partington of Biometrics SA for assistance with statistical analysis. Chris Salter and Mark Bartetzko of Primary Industries, SA are also thanked for their participation in the establishment of trials and technology transfer programs. iv Contents Foreword............................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgments...............................................................................................................iv Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... vii 1. Collection and development of Ixodia varieties.......................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction....................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Description and geography of native stands................................................ 1 1.1.2 History of cultivation..................................................................................... 1 1.1.3 Cultivation .................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Materials and Methods ..................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 New Field Collections .................................................................................. 2 1.2.2 Growers contributions.................................................................................. 4 1.2.3 Seed evaluation........................................................................................... 4 1.2.4 Hybridisation ................................................................................................ 5 1.3 Results.............................................................................................................. 5 1.3.1 Characteristics of geographic forms ............................................................ 5 1.3.2 Characteristics of floral form ........................................................................ 7 1.3.3 Propagation ................................................................................................. 8 2. Variety Assessment Program.................................................................................... 10 2.1 Introduction..................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Materials and methods ................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Yield and performance trials ...................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Post harvest assessments......................................................................... 11 2.2.3 Stem Growth Measurements ..................................................................... 12 2.2.4 Variety Descriptions and Identification....................................................... 12 2.2.5 PBR Comparative Trials ............................................................................ 12 2.2.6 Flowering controls and pot plant assessment............................................ 13 2.2.7 Assessment of Landscape Varieties.......................................................... 13 2.3 Results............................................................................................................ 13 2.4 Yield and performance trials........................................................................... 14 2.4.1 Field Trials 1997/98 - Lenswood................................................................ 15 2.4.2 Field Trials 1997/98 – Southeast ............................................................... 19 2.4.3 1997/99 Harvest data comparisons – Lenswood....................................... 22 2.4.4 Extended trial – Varieties 60- 67................................................................ 24 2.5 Post harvest – fresh flower evaluation............................................................ 26 2.6 Stem growth measurements........................................................................... 30 2.7 Variety Descriptions and Identification ........................................................... 32 2.7.1 Harvest date records.................................................................................. 32 2.7.2 Floral descriptions...................................................................................... 33 2.7.3 Colour data from all the assessed forms ................................................... 36 2.8 Assessment of dwarf plants for pot plant production...................................... 37 2.8.1 Length of coolstore treatment affects growth and flowering ...................... 38 2.8.2 Coolstore treatment