· To facilitate development of a commercially viable industry based on production of Kesom oil by:
+ Development of an effective weed control protocol
+ Establishing the effects on oil yield and composition of interactions 
between rate/time of nitrogen application and time/number of harvests
+ Evaluating market opportunities for a range of Kesom oils produced under 
commercial conditions
+ Establishment of likely costs of production of a commercial scale kesom oil production system
+ Provision of a detailed report documenting requirements for the sustainable production and marketing of kesom oil

The project aims to develop and promote kesom oil as a viable essential oil crop. This will be achieved by agronomic studies by DNRE now under way in Ovens Research Station (ORS) and market evaluation and development by industry. Large-scale commercial samples of kesom oil produced as part of the study in Corryong will enable product evaluation and development by the flavour and fragrance industry. Investigations into weed control methods are advancing with the best bet practices in both pre and post plant applications being tested.

The kesom plant while used widely in Asia as a fresh and dried herb/condiment has not yet been developed as a discrete oil extract until now.

· To develop profitable and sustainable production and harvesting systems for the production of high quality Echinacea angustifolia root by the year 2000, using profitable ‘organic’ production techniques and mechanical harvesting. This product is in demand for use by the Australian medicinal herb industry and for future export.

· This study will enable the Boronia industry to determine the viability of replanting present Boronia plantations and indicate the management procedures necessary to successfully re-establish Boronia plantations under their existing infrastructure

In heathlands, boronia rejuvenates best after fire due to an ‘ashbed effect’. However, plants do not thrive with high nitrate and phosphorus supply, probably due to a subsequent reduction in mycorrhiza infection. This relationship will be investigated, as a lack of mycorrhiza can increase the plants’ susceptibility to fungal attack.

Phytophthora cinnamoni has been confirmed as the major pathogen causing plant decline in plantations on virgin land in North Eastern Tasmania. Areas displaying signs of temporary water-logging were especially affected. Further Tasmanian plantations will be investigated to identify causes of plant decline.

Literature on the management of replant problems and P. cinnamoni helped to design a field trial. Treatments include chemical products, fertilisers, fire and organic amendments. Alfalfa, mustard and soy meals are being tested in vitro for efficacy against P. cinnamoni. If successful and economically viable, these treatments will be evaluated in the field.

Soil samples were collected from the trial site to conduct a soil sickness test, recommended for orchard soils.

· To generate compositional information on skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and optimise the genetics of seed stocks, and postharvest handling and processing systems, to enable growers and processors to maximise quality in the end product and thus obtain price premiums on the world market

There was a considerable reduction in the concentration of flavones when plants were strongly compressed. This is in contrast to echinacea which was previously found able to withstand considerable physical abuse after harvest without lose of active constituents.

The effect of drying temperature in a hot air drier was examined across the range of 40 to 70°C. It was found that the level of flavones was not significantly different over the temperature range but, as expected, the time to dry the plants was greatly reduced as the temperature increased. The use of a hot air drier at 70°C thus appears to be an acceptable method of drying skullcap in terms of end product quality and drying time.

· To generate compositional information on American Ginseng, optimise postharvest handling and processing systems, and survey effects of current production systems to enable growers and processors to maximise quality in the end product and thus obtain price premiums on the world market

Analysis of the ginsenoside content of ginseng plants showed that there was a wide range in concentration in the different plant parts with the highest concentration in the hair root and leaf and the lowest in the stem. However, on a total plant basis, the main root and lateral root contained 70% of the plant ginsenosides. The six ginsenosides reported for Amercian ginseng were found in all plant parts but were differentially distributed with Rb1 the major ginsenoside in root material and Rd in aerial material.

· The project will generate information to enable valerian growers and processors to optimise growing and harvesting practices

A range of different types of valerian seed has been collected from Australian and European sources and will be progressively planted in various locations in the 1999/2000 growing season. The aim of the study is to determine those factors which lead to the best yielding crop in terms of active constituents.

· 1) To gain registration for a genetic extract of Tasmania lanceolata with an internationally recognised body. The strategy involves determining a range
of commercial extracts required by the client

· 2) To supply a consistent product of prescribed quality, the blending characteristics of selected clones will be assessed for their ability to mimic the established standard. Clonal selections that have been made to date must be maintained for this purpose

The registration of this project is proceeding well, with negotiations being under taken with FEMA. A full proposal has been prepared for a US trading company who will present the case to the FEMA committee. Toxicological studies have not been included in this proposal.

Toxicological work, conducted in Japan, is being investigated to ascertain its availability and suitability for the US submission. Biodegradation studies have been undertaken with the extract. Isolation of bacteria, capable of utilising the extract as the sole carbon and energy source, was achieved with six different strains of Pseudomonas spp.

The chemical identification of components, an important prelude to the registration process, has enabled a standard gas chromatogram to be produced. This tool will prove useful in maintaining quality control standards. A method has been developed to purify polygodial. This material has been used in efficiency studies on marine organisms.

· A manual detailing methods of analyses for residues of pesticides used in essential oil crops, would provide industry with a concise practical reference, facilitating the transfer of technology from a research base to practical application. The monitoring of commercial harvests will provide benchmarks to be considered when negotiations to set residue limits commence. Experiments to determining the dominant factor in pesticide accumulation will contribute towards achieving optimum application rates for effective pest control

Routine monitoring of concrete and steam distilled oils for 1998 has been conducted. No excessive contamination was evident with levels of the main pesticides used in the industry, propiconazole, simazine and terbacil, well below the minimum acceptable level. Screening of the 1999 harvest has already commenced with pesticide levels remaining below recommended levels for oil tested to date.

The preliminary layout of the methods manual is complete. Classification of pesticides into the chemical type of the active ingredient, and practical considerations to be taken into account when approaching the introduction of a new analytical method, are detailed. Analytical protocols have been added to the methods manual as validations are complete.

· Optimise on-farm post-harvest incubation techniques and examine the potential for post-harvest increases in volatiles to the selection of new clones where possible. Develop high B-ionone and low pigmented fractions suitable for presentation to potential new clients, particularly fragrance markets through fractionation and purification procedures

Large scale incubations were carried out on C&S Turnbull’s property in 1999 using two clones, 250 and 5. Newly harvested flowers were spread in shadecloth lined trenches, and were exposed to ambient air. There was an average increase of 30-37% in total volatiles in extract, with 62-100% increase in ß-ionone and little change in extract concentration. It is encouraging that a commercial scale trial carried out completely by a boronia grower with home made equipment has achieved such an outstanding result.

Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Boronia Concrete

Boronia concrete was extracted at different densities using a supercritical fluid extractor (Varian Star Auto Prep 44). A decrease in density lowered pigment content (determined visually) and extracted the highly valued components, including ß-ionone, more efficiently than the lower molecular weight monoterpenes. An extraction density of 0.615 g/mL (125atm.50°C) yielded a pale yellow solid with an increased percentage by weight of ß-ionone in the extract. Extraction was performed at the lowest density available using the Varian instrument. Trials at lower densities and pilot scale trials will be useful.

Biochemistry of ß-ionone Production in the Boronia Flower

Understanding the biochemistry of volatile production has the potential to aid clone selection. Experiments were initiated which explored the potential enzymatic production of ß-ionone and other volatiles from carotenoids. The experiments conducted related to direct enzymatic production of volatiles and other mechanisms involving enzyme related free radical medicated production.

· The location and high apiole parsley seed germplasm will enable the establishment of a new product line within the essential oil industry in Tasmania. The concurrent development of an efficient extraction protocol for the oil will enhance the returns to the industry

Field samples of Triple Curl were taken for laboratory solvent extraction. These will be used to assess the oil compositional changes with maturity. No field samples of Plain Leaf Parsley were available this season.

A small sample of the Plan Leaf variety "Napoli" was steam distilled in the laboratory. Some fractions of this oil were found to contain up to 50% apiole. An area of approximately 0.25ha has been sown as a semi-commercial field trial for the coming season. This area will also provide material for laboratory scale extractions as required.

Yates Pty Ltd, a commercial seed supply company, is investigating the source of potentially high apiole seed, to be assessed in glasshouse trials in the coming year.

· The development of a production system for the growing, harvesting and drying of high grade chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) flowers for the medicinal market and the distillation of lower grade flowers for the blue chamomile essential oil

Extraction techniques and drying protocols will be formalised when the data processing is complete.

· A pilot management system linking best practice procedures, consultants, and the day to day management team of a commercial peppermint oil production unit. The system will focus on agronomic procedures, effective decision-making and risk management

The database was used by Tasmanian growers in the second part of the 1999/2000 growing season, during which time the website was tested and refined.

At the end of the season, some additional information is to be added, and plans for the following season will be developed and posted on each grower’s page for reference during the growing season.

Preparation of the final report for this project is in progress, and will include feedback from the producers and companies participating in the project.

· To establish the agronomic conditions needed to maximise yield and productivity of peppermint through double harvesting and to examine the market reaction to double cut and blended Australian peppermint oils.

The study involves double and single harvests to study the immediate yield implications possible under a double harvest regime in a given year on two sites and double harvest over multiple seasons to compare the third season harvests against a control block of second seasons harvest at the same site. Consecutive seasons oil production are also possible in Trial 1 to study the effect of seasons on oil yield.

Again this season there was a reduction in plant cover apparent in the Trial 1 and 2 plots in the early-1 harvest yields compared to the normal plots. This is consistent with the common belief that double harvest will adversely effect successive yields. However, the early -2 and normal harvest results were not significantly different between the two trials in the last season. This will be further analysed with this seasons data across the two trial sites. Source of nitrogen study involving source, time and rate of application are also being studied. 

· To produce commercial food grade onion oil from waste onions by developing an extraction process capable of producing oil which meets the demands and specifications of international markets

Experiments were conducted to examine the effect of including varying proportions of sprouted bulbs in pre-distillation fermentation mashes. Sprout proportions of 10% and 25%, but not 50%, where shown to increase distilled oil yield from recently harvested onions. This promotion was not evident in onions stored for more than 3 months.

Onion oil is a complex mixture of volatile chemicals with different solubilities and densities. Collection of all these oil fractions is problematic without the use of a solvent trap, something not practical on a commercial scale. Thus a series of pilot scale applications of spinning cone column (SCC) technology (from Flavourtech Pty Ltd), to distilled oil recovery, were undertaken.

Despite technical problems with the integration of SCC and local commercial equipment limiting distillation efficiency, yields of >90% of those determined as theoretically possible were achieved. It is considered that with appropriate technical modifications, this technology could provide reliable increases in distilled oil recovery for commercial production.