Leptospermum as an export cut flower crop A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation by Anthony T. Slater, Mary-Anne C. Blakemore, John D. Faragher, Peter R. Franz, Bret Henderson & Karen Green June 2001 RIRDC Publication No 01/056 RIRDC Project No DAV-141A © 2001 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0 642 58278 5 ISSN 1440-6845 Leptospermum as an export cut flower crop Publication No. 01/056 Project No. DAV-141A. 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 Anthony T. Slater, Mary-Anne C. Blakemore, John D. Faragher, Peter R. Franz, Bret Henderson & Karen Green NRE / Agriculture Victoria, Knoxfield Private Bag 15 Scoresby Business Centre VIC 3176 Phone: 03 9210 9222 Fax: 03 9800 3521 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/agvic/ihd/ 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]. Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in June 2001 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint Foreword Wildflowers are cultivated in all States, and Australia’s annual wildflower production is valued at around $45 million at the farm gate, and the value of exports amounted to just under $30 million in 1999/2000. The key commercial wildflowers are geraldton wax, kangaroo paw, Thryptomene, and species of Banksia, Telopea, Leucadendron and Protea, but a key factor in the growth of this industry is the development of new products. Leptospermum (tea-tree) is a diverse group of plants, and contains some highly attractive forms that are considered to be a valuable ornamental crop. The group has been limited in its use as a cut flower due to postharvest problems of some cultivars. Other cultivars have a good vase life and there is a strong interest in Leptospermum in export markets. This project was conducted to identify and develop forms within the group that could be used as cut flowers with a long vase life, novel colour and varying flowering times for export. This project was funded from RIRDC Core Funds which are provided by the Federal Government. This report, a new addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 600 research publications, forms part of our Wildflower 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 conducted with financial support by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) through its Specialised Rural Industries Program, and Longford Flowers. We would also like to thank a number of people who have assisted the project through various efforts. Denis Tricks and John Cane (Longford Flowers) have provided impetus, guidance and critical comment on the work from the start. They have also provided financial support and significant inputs through the provision of floral materials and the set up and maintenance of a field site. Peter Williams collaborated and conducted some of his work on Phosphine fumigations on floral material from this project. Andrew McNish collaborated with work on ethylene sensitivity and MCP (1-methylcyclopropene, EthylBloc). Melissa Taylor and staff at Gatton College assisted with the field trial at Gatton. Iain Dawson, Rob Cross, Kevin Seaton, Peter Ollerenshaw, Peter Abell, David Evans and Jonathan Lidbetter assisted with the provision of floral and plant material, and useful discussions on Leptospermum. Kerry Thomas, and Cherie Bell provided assistance to the project. Alan Noon, Trevor Davy, Norm Morrison, Janyce Truett, Pam Rogers and Sam Ryan aided with the field trial at Knoxfield. iv Contents Foreword................................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgments.................................................................................................................iv Executive Summary .............................................................................................................vii 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................1 Background...........................................................................................................................1 Objectives.............................................................................................................................2 2. Materials and Methods.......................................................................................................3 2.1. Determination of suitable Leptospermum as cut flowers ...........................................3 2.1.1. Collection of plant material.....................................................................................3 2.1.2. Propagation............................................................................................................3 2.1.3. Cultivation...............................................................................................................3 2.1.4. Assessment of growth habit and floral display .......................................................5 2.1.5. Pests and diseases ................................................................................................5 2.2. Interstate performance...............................................................................................5 2.3. Postharvest trials.......................................................................................................6 2.3.1. Leptospermum rotundifolium postharvest trials......................................................6 2.3.2. Leptospermum grandifolium postharvest trials.......................................................8 2.3.3. Leptospermum morrisonii postharvest trials...........................................................8 2.3.4. Effect of simulated transport on L. grandifolium, L. morrisonii and L. obovatum....9 2.3.5. Effect of ethylene on Leptospermum......................................................................9 2.3.6. Postharvest fumigation trials with Phosphine.......................................................10 2.4. Leptospermum breeding program............................................................................11 2.4.1. Reproductive biology............................................................................................11 2.4.2. Hybridisation program..........................................................................................11 2.5. Statistical analysis....................................................................................................12 3. Results ..............................................................................................................................13 3.1. Determination of suitable Leptospermum as cut flowers .........................................13 3.1.1. Collection of plant material...................................................................................13 3.1.2. Propagation and cultivation of material ................................................................13 3.1.3. Assessment of growth habit and floral display .....................................................13 3.1.4. Pests and diseases ..............................................................................................17 3.2. Interstate performance.............................................................................................17 3.3. Postharvest trials.....................................................................................................18 3.3.1. Leptospermum rotundifolium postharvest trials....................................................18 3.3.2. Leptospermum grandifolium postharvest trials.....................................................20 3.3.3. Leptospermum morrisonii Burgundy postharvest trials ........................................21 3.3.4. Effect of simulated transport on 3 species of Leptospermum. .............................22 3.3.5. Effect of ethylene on Leptospermum....................................................................23 3.3.6. Postharvest fumigation trials with Phosphine.......................................................24 3.4. Leptospermum breeding program............................................................................24 v 4. Discussion ........................................................................................................................25 Cultivars and performance..................................................................................................25