World-first propagation of fungi-free waxflowers

University of Queensland researchers have come to the rescue of Australia's $12 million waxflower industry through the world-first propagation of several new fungi-resistant varieties.

The project is a three-way collaboration between the University's Gatton College, the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) and Lockyer Valley waxflower grower Ebonybrook Pty Ltd.

Waxflower varieties including Wanneroo Wax, Purple Pride, Iceberg and Winter White are in demand both domestically and overseas as a filler flower for bouquets because of their beautiful foliage and two-week life span once cut.

Native to Western Australia, it also thrived under Queensland's humid climate until a fungi known as Phytophthora began infecting its roots and causing the loss of large numbers of crops.

According to Gatton College horticulturist Ian Gordon, the fungi was poised to ruin the Queensland industry unless a solution was found.

Using root stock from several Ebonybrook plants which did not fall victim to fungal infection, Dr Gordon and PhD student Greg O'Sullivan developed the resistant varieties.

"We are the first university in the world to develop grafting techniques for Australian wildflowers with this technology now available to other commercially grown species," Mr Gordon said.

"Propagated root stocks from resistant plants can be grown into other waxflower plants to dramatically improve plantation productivity."

The project, funded by a $50,000 QDPI Export Enhancement Program grant, was a prime example of Gatton College's strength in collaborating with industry to productivity, he said.

Ebonybrook manager Ken Young has been integral to the project and said his 20-hectare waxflower plantation 18 kilometres from the College now had the biggest block of grafted native plants in Australia.

"The 2500 grafted plants show continuing Phytophthora tolerance and are also visibly more vigorous and uniform in growth than the cutting-grown controls planted among them," he said. Mr O'Sullivan presented papers detailing the nature of the resistance at the Australian Plant Pathology Conference in Canberra in early October.

For more information, contact Ian Gordon (telephone 07 5460 1235).