Grafting of Waxflower

1
Grafting of Waxflower
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
2
Grafting of Waxflower
Why graft ? The earliest waxflowers exported
from Australia are grown in south Queensland
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
3
Grafting of Waxflower
Why graft ? The heavy soils and summer rainfall
in south Queensland make Phytophthora cinnamomi a
major problem
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
4
Grafting of Waxflower
Why graft ? It is not uncommon for losses of up
to 10 per year to occur in south Queensland
waxflower plantations
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
5
Grafting of Waxflower
Why graft ? This level of plant losses makes
waxflower production uneconomic
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
6
Grafting of Waxflower
Why graft ? A number of waxflower and related
Myrtaceae selections have demonstrated resistance
or tolerance to Phytophthora cinnamomi in south
Queensland
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
7
Grafting of Waxflower
Why graft ? Is it possible to use these P.c.
tolerant selections as rootstocks onto which P.c
susceptible waxflower selections could be grafted
?
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
8
Grafting of Waxflower
Grafting trials There was no literature on
grafting of waxflower So - I went back to the
basics of grafting.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
9
Grafting of Waxflower
Top Grafting Top of rootstock removed and scion
grafted on top. Whip Graft Whip and Tongue
graft Cleft Graft
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
10
Grafting of Waxflower
Side Grafting Top of rootstock retained and
scion grafted on side of stem. Side Veneer Graft
Side Cleft Graft.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
11
Grafting of Waxflower
First grafting trial Whip Graft 52 Side
Graft 93
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
12
Grafting of Waxflower
Genetic identity of rootstocks Commercial
confidentiality A2 B4C4 D2E2
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
13
Grafting of Waxflower
Disease Resistance Inoculation Studies in Qld
and W.A. have shown that the rootstocks are
highly resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
14
Grafting of Waxflower
Rootstock studies Until now, our studies have
been confined to S.E. queensland. We are now
placing grafted plants in other locations to
assess their performance.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
15
Grafting of Waxflower
Rootstock Propagation Softwood tip cuttings
through spring and summer when no flowering
effect is present in mother plants.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
16
Grafting of Waxflower
Terminal softwood cuttings 10 cm long. Basal 3 cm
of leaves removed. 4,000 mg/L IBA liquid (Rootex
L) used as dip.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
17
Grafting of Waxflower
Propagation container Jiffy Strip 515
compressed fibre container. Equal parts sphagnum
peat / perlite / vermiculite with mini Osmocote
at 1 kg/ M3
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
18
Grafting of Waxflower
Propagation environment High humidity fog
propagation greenhouse Open top weldmesh benches
with warm water heating system set to maintain 25
oC
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
19
Grafting of Waxflower
Air Pruning The open top benches provide a
strong air pruning effect on roots which emerge
through the fibre walls of the Jiffy Strips.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
20
Grafting of Waxflower
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
21
Grafting of Waxflower
Root Development Well advanced within 4 weeks.
Trays removed from prop benches and hardened off
for another 2 weeks. Strike rate - regularly
within 80 - 90 range.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
22
Grafting of Waxflower
Potting of Rootstocks Potted into deep square
native tubes with Jiffy Strip left intact. 40
composted pine bark 40 hardwood sawdust 20
coarse sand
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
23
Grafting of Waxflower
Using rootstocks for grafting Grafting is
possible 10-12 weeks after propagation However,
rootstock stems are very thin and grafting is not
easy.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
24
Grafting of Waxflower
The process of grafting My preferred time of
year - November to May. Grafting in winter is
possible but Botrytis is troublesome. My
preferred graft - the side veneer graft.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
25
Grafting of Waxflower
The process of grafting Use a sharp knife or
scalpel. A thin slice of bark 1.5-2 cm long is
removed from the side of the rootstock. A
corresponding slice is removed from the scion
stem.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
26
Grafting of Waxflower
The process of grafting The soft terminal
portion of the scion is removed. The scion and
rootstock cuts are fitted together and tied using
Parafilm laboratory film.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
27
Grafting of Waxflower
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
28
Grafting of Waxflower
Post-grafting environment This is the same high
humidity prop house where the rootstocks are
propagated. Marix cloth is placed over the
grafted plants for the first week, and then
removed.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
29
Grafting of Waxflower
Post grafting environment After two weeks the
tops of the rootstock are cut off flush with the
graft union. The grafted plants spend three weeks
in total in the propagation environment.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
30
Grafting of Waxflower
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
31
Grafting of Waxflower
Hardening off of grafted plants Three weeks
after grafting, the plants are moved out into a
high light greenhouse. They remain here for 2-3
weeks and are then moved out into full sun,
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
32
Grafting of Waxflower
Removal of sideshoots All sideshoots originating
from the stem of the rootstock must be removed,
otherwise they will outgrow and suppress the
graft scion.
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
33
Grafting of Waxflower
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
34
Grafting of Waxflower

• Benefits of grafted plants
• Resistance to Root Rot
• Long term survival
• Vigorous, uniform growth
• Less fungicide use
• Reduced cost
• Environmental benefit

University of Queensland Gatton Campus
35
Grafting of Waxflower
Retail demand for grafted waxflower
plants During Spring of 2000 we will be test
marketing 3 selections of grafted wax into the
retail market in SE Queensland
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
36
Grafting of Waxflower
University of Queensland Gatton Campus
37
Grafting of Waxflower
The End
University of Queensland Gatton Campus