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Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
RIRDC Publication No 01/0096
RIRDC File No BAF-1A
Executive Summary
Objectives
To investigate the propagation techniques of the new double pink flowering waxflower with a view to improving the success rate during the propagation phase.
An improvement in the propagation success rate will make available a new and unique waxflower for the wildflower and native plant component of the floriculture industry.
Background
Geraldton wax contributes a large proportion of the Australian wildflowers and native plants segment of the export and local cut flower industry. Early plantings concentrated on a few cultivars with limited range in flower colour and flowering time, which imposed constraints upon growers in terms of their continuity of supply to the market.
Additional varieties have now been selected and developed which provide a broader range in the size and colour of the flowers as well as an extended flowering period. This new and unique double pink flowering variety will provide additional impetus to the waxflower market.
All waxflower plants originate from seedlings or cuttings taken from seedling plants. Each plant shows some variation in its genetic makeup and physiology impacting upon the vigour of the plant, the size and colour of the flowers and the period of time over which it flowers. Environmental factors such as day length and temperature also make some contribution.
These individual plants also present degrees of difficulty in their propagation. Many are easy to propagate and others very difficult. The double flowering variety falls into the class of being difficult to propagate.
Propagation involves the selection of appropriate plant material, treating it with fungicide and plant growth substances, use of suitable growing media and subsequent location in the environmental conditions will enhance plant growth. The success rate depends upon the best combination of factors for that particular clone.
Outcome
The project has enabled improved techniques to be applied to the propagation of waxflowers. This has made it possible to increase the yield of the more difficult to propagate clones of waxflower.
When compared to other varieties the yield for the double pink clone was extremely low but when a different protocol is employed the yield increases considerably.
The double pink flowering waxflower is now to be released to industry for production by selected growers. Since it is a later flowering unique variety, more continuity of supply will assist the waxflower growers and flower markets.
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