Short courses share latest horticulture skills

A course on plant propagation, open to all growers and horticulturalists, will be held at the UQ Gatton campus from 15-17 February, 2005.

It is the second in the series of short courses on the latest horticultural techniques developed by UQ Gatton’s Centre for Native Floriculture.

The plant propagation short course follows an earlier course on plant tissue culture attended by people from Australia and overseas.

The plant tissue culture short course focused on developing participants’ skills in the initiation, multiplication and root development of plant cultures.

The Centre for Native Floriculture’s Ian Gordon said the practical sessions were an invaluable opportunity for people working in the production or amenity horticulture industries to learn new skills or refine their plant husbandry techniques.

He said participants benefited from accessing specialist advice and UQ Gatton’s sophisticated plant tissue culture laboratory and plant nursery facilities.

“The Centre for Native Floriculture has developed this series of short courses to assist people in the horticultural industry boost their skills in every stage of the chain from seedling production to selling,” Mr Gordon said.

“The two initial courses concentrate on tissue culture and propagation. They’re designed to provide the participants with the knowledge and skills required to successfully produce tissue culture propagated plants in the laboratory and the nursery.

“Other short courses on field production, postharvest management and marketing of native floriculture products will follow. People can enrol in one, two or all of them depending on their particular needs.”

Mr Gordon said places in the short courses were limited and interested parties should book early to avoid disappointment.

Bookings for the Plant Propagation Short Course on 15-17 February or enquiries about other short courses in the series can be made by contacting Ms Russell on (07) 54601063, mobile 0407 671 547 or email nravs.training@uq.edu.au.

More information: Ms Ray Russell, NRAVS Training Coordinator, (07) 54601063 or 0407.671.547