• To establish the feasibility of enhancing the capcaity of wildflower and native plant growers to do their own statistically sound research, and in the process conduct industry relevant research, as well as developing relevant training courses and a Manual tailored to the specific simple research needs of this industry.

A Western Australian Southern Protea Group grower reported "increased returns (to nitrogen in Leucadendron) of approximately five dollars to twelve dollars per plant for fifty grams of nitrogen. The long-term effects of increased rates of nitrogen will be assessed over the next two years".

Late or continuous rates of nitrogen increased Protea stem lengths. At a satellite site, plant width and stem length responded positively to nitrogen. A WA Native Wildflower Group nutritional trial on mature plants of Verticordia monodelpha, interspersed with seedlings continued until pruning time. "As an exercise in the DOOR principle, the program was a good learning curve for all those actively involved".

A Lockyer Valley, Queensland, rice flower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius) trial determined that foliar nutrient sprays are not warranted. At Maleney, data is still to be collected on the effect of sawdust amendment on the incidence of root-knot nematode in Valentine Lace (Platysace lanceolata). The grower urges other growers "to investigate the DOOR concept and where a problem exists to initiate a DOOR trial". 

Another Lockyer Valley grower is assessing the interacting effects of a compost extract (Humilac), Trichoderma and mycorrhizal inoculum additions at transplanting on the reaction a number of Geraldton waxflower (Chamelaucium spp) cultivars to the ingress of the Phytophthora root rot, plant survival and growth. 

A number of speakers making presentations at the recent Fifth National Wildflower Conference in Melbourne made favourable comments about the DOOR approach to self-help research. 

The DOOR approach appears successful provided there is appropriate consultancy support in the early stages of experimentation.

• To produce a user-friendly information kit for intending, new and established growers enhanced by the participation of four highly experienced consultant growers.

• To increase the production levels of Ixodia daisy for export markets by overcoming production based problems currently limiting uptake and expansion of this crop.

Growth data measurements spanning 18 months at fortnightly intervals has been completed and analysed for one hybrid and four varieties representing the main geographic ecotypes of ixodia. Knowledge of the growth patterns of these varieties can be used to schedule cultivation practices and predict growth responses of new introductions.

Postharvest assessment of a additional twenty varieties was conducted with the 1998/98 harvest. Storage trials have confirmed the suitability of dry storage at 0C for two weeks to prolong the market availability of fresh flowers.

• To limit the spread of disease from nursery stock and from infested sites to non-infested sites
• To improve fungicidal control, in particular, to educate growers on effective application methods and timing of fungicides
• To gain a better understanding of the biology and epidemiology of disease to assist in better prediction of disease outbreaks and assist in correct timing of chemical sprays
• To develop an integrated control program for Elsinoe scab of cut flower Proteaceae
• To identify alternative native and exotic tests and demonstrate how the fungus overwinters

A glasshouse trial was conducted in 1998/99 to assess the susceptibility of 22 native and South African species and cultivars of Proteaceae, to four Elsinoe isolates. A number of Dryandra formosa and Banksia sp. plants became infected with Elsinoe isolates obtained from South African host plants in Australia, as well as an isolate from Banksia prionotes. The majority of South African varieties (eight of ten tested) developed disease symptoms with at least one isolate from South African host plants and three varieties became infected with the Banksia prionotes isolate. The potential for similar non-host specific infections to occur under field conditions has not been investigated. The glasshouse trial results suggest that native species have the potential to harbour and spread Elsinoe strains responsible for commercial losses to South African Proteaceae. 

Protea ‘Pink Ice’, P. cynaroides and P. obtusifolia, all developed disease on some plants when inoculated with isolates from South African varieties, and P. obtusifolia also showed some infection with the Banksia obtusifolia isolate. These results stress the need for strict property hygiene and quarantine of all new stock material. 

• To develop a range of Leptospermum species with long vase life, novel colour forms and varying flowering times for release as a new cut flower crop for export.

The reproductive biology of Leptospermum flowers has been examined, and a breeding program established using appropriate parents. This breeding program is designed to increase the colour range of flowers available that have good vase life, over an extended season.

From the first season’s breeding program, seventy-six seedlings are now established at a field site. In the second season, hybrid pollinations were conducted between 12 species. 39 nuts have been harvested and the seeds are currently being germinated. 117 nuts are still maturing.

Two arboreta have been established to determine the growth and flowering of plants growing in the field. There are currently 77 cultivars at one site, and 15 cultivars at the other. 

A trial is under way to determine the variations in growth and flowering in Victoria and Queensland. This comparison is important as a number of cut flowers selected from south-eastern Australia are not flowering well enough to be commercial in Queensland. 

• To modify a new fumigation technique using phosphine so as to reduce treatment time to less than 16 hours while ensuring effective control of insect pests without damage to flowers enabling more rapid delivery of flowers from exporters to importer. 
• To also extend testing from the key pests already assessed to other insects known to be associated with cut flowers, this will increase confidence in the technique.

• To provide the wildflower industry with a new, unusual and potentially highly profitable cutflower by studying the biology of golden cascade (Corynanthera flava) in its natural environment, selecting commercially desirable forms and developing methods of establishing and cultivating these for commercial cutflower production.

Four natural populations of have been surveyed and selections made of plant variation within these populations. Plants have been successfully propagated using cutting and tissue culture methods. Methods have been developed for achieving a high multiplication rate in tissue culture. Cuttings are responding to root initiation procedures.

At Medina trial plantings are showing a response to irrigation treatments and these techniques will be further refined over the coming spring-summer period for application to commercial production 

• To develop blue smokebush as a new cutflower available over an extended season for the feature filler export market. This project aims to develop superior clones, propagation, cultivation and postharvest (for fresh and dried product) methods for commercial production of blue smokebush. It will encourage industry development throughout Australia and promote the crop on Australian and export markets.

Surveys of natural populations have been made during the flowering season to locate desirable cut flower forms. Selections have been made from an number of geographical locations and include plants with early and late flowering, high production and long stem length as well as variation in flower colour and flower display. 

Currently several clones of blue smokebush have been established in tissue culture. Cultures established are being multiplied up and rooting trials have commenced. As plants become available from propagation these will be compared under cultivation at Medina Research Station and then tested over several locations on flower farms 

• To develop an efficient system for flannel flower cut flower production by commercially evaluating four varieties of flannel flower, with particular emphasis placed on the post harvest aspects, including vase life, packaging and transportation. Also, to assess the suitability of A schwarzii for the cut flower market.

• To improve chemical uptake preservation of a range of Australian plant material through determining:

Results of experiments showed that the humidity of the storage environment affects outturn quality of preserved stems. Storage at high RH (>80%) or low (<30%) should be avoided because stems absorb to much moisture and support growth of micro-organisms, or become brittle, respectively. A test to predict the stability of the preserved product in the consumers’ display area has been developed called the equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) test which could be used to enhance quality management programs (Joyce 1997). Alternatively it could be used as a feedback loop to refine the preservation process.

• To develop a new floricultural crop with good postharvest longevity that will allow export of high quality fresh and dried flowers to the demanding markets of Asia and Europe. Expansion of the current range of high quality export flowers in essential for the continued growth of the floricultural sector. Currently this species is bush picked from limited sources and supply can not meet demand.

Seed orchards for these two forms were established and these are now producing seeds. A commercial scale method for seed smoking was developed. Agronomic practices were investigated and a suitable sowing time, planting density, pest and disease management as well as watering and fertiliser application rates were determined. A pruning regime and harvest and postharvest protocols for distance transport were also determined.

Negotiations were initiated by Agriculture Western Australia through the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service to allow product entry to Japan and the USA which would greatly extend overseas markets.

An intellectual property agreement is in place for extending commercial scale testing of production procedures. Seed was harvested from our orchards and Grower Guidelines were produced for these growers.

Information transfer will be via growers involved in the extended testing arrangements, presentation of information at workshops and conferences, in scientific papers and in the RIRDC Final Report.

• To enhance the economic strength of the Australia wildflower industry by assuring the supply of new and unique plant cultivars through narrow and wide crosses and, for the long term, by the training of a plant breeder and studying the biology underlying the breeding of the Chamelaucium alliance.

Pollen and embryo viability has been assessed in more than 40 selected parents and these data have been used in the selection of the most productive parents used in the practical breeding program. Cytogenetic studies has revealed that chromosome numbers of all waxflowers studied are based on n=11. Most of the plants observed are diploid with 22 chromosomes, however, several triploid plants (2n=3x=33), two tetraploids (2n=4x=44) and one pentaploid plant (2n=5x=55) were discovered. This research provided the fundamental genetic information for the ongoing waxflower breeding program. RAPD and PCR-RFLP are being used to study the phylogenetic relationships and the chloroplast genome inheritance in waxflowers to generate basic molecular information for the breeding program.

Our PhD student working in this project has elected to suspend her research and work for CALM for one year. We have made funds available to employ casuals to carry on with the research in early embryo rescue and restoration of fertility of wide hybrids.

• The establishment of a breeding protocol for making interspecific crosses in Leucadendron and 
• The initiation of a long term breeding program for the production of several new off-season varieties

To help the selection of productive male and female parents in the breeding program, pollen viability of 21 male parents and fecundity of 20 female parents from different species were studied. Pollen viability ranged from about 20% to more than 80% depending on the genotype used. Mature cones have been collected to extract seeds. Number of seeds extracted per cone ranged from 0 to more than 60. The data have been used for the selection of parents in the hybridisation program.

Pollen from seven genotypes of six species was collected and stored at different conditions to determine the optimum conditions for long term storage of Leucadendron pollen. The factorial treatments include desiccation, non-desiccation and different temperatures ranging from 20° C to -80° C. Pollen viability is monitored at 0 day, 7 days, 14 days, 30 days, 90 days, 180 days and 360 days using FDA technique. Preliminary results have shown that both temperature and desiccation affect Leucadendron pollen storage. Desiccated pollen stored at -80° C keeps the highest viability based on the test results after 30 days (after 90 days for one genotype) of storage. This research results will help in making crosses between different species flowering at different times of the year.

Altogether 1,739 flower heads from 54 genotypes of 21 species have been hand pollinated. These crosses include 171 different interspecific cross combinations and 23 intraspecific crosses as controls. Most of the cones have been collected to extract seeds. So far, over 15,000 seeds have been extracted. Seed will be germinated based on a standard protocol we have developed and hybrids will be planted and evaluated on growers properties.