ISHS Acta Horticulturae 454: III International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops
SELECTION AND PRODUCTION OF BORONIA |
| Authors: | J.A. Plummer, J.M. Wann, I. Astarini, J.A. Considine, Z.E. Spadek, P. Watkins |
| Keywords: | Boronia heterophylla, Boronia megastigma, Boronia purdieana, flowering, essential oils, cut flowers, gibberellic acid, benzyl amino purine |
| Abstract:
Boronia heterophylla, B. megastigma, and B. purdieana are native to the southwest of Western Australia. Restrictions on bush-picking and the need to improve quality, has increased demand for harvesting from cultivated boronia plants. Current commercial production is insufficient and is based on a limited number of genotypes. Boronia absolute is extracted from B. megastigma flowers and it is used primarily in the food flavouring industry. Oil components in B. megastigma were analysed using gas liquid chromatography and were investigated using principle components analysis.  -Ionone and dodecyl acetate, the most desirable oil components, were closely related and quite distinct from  -pinene, -pinene and limonene.
These undesirable monoterpene hydrocarbons were also closely related.
These relationships indicate that selection of genotypes that produce oil with abundant -ionone and dodecyl acetate and little or no monoterpenes is possible.
Canopy cover, plant age, vigour and flower colour affected the concentration of oil components. B. heterophylla and B. purdieana were selected from natural populations of the basis of flower colour, time of flowering and growth habit.
A range of pink forms of B heterophylla were identified but natural flowering times were limited.
Growth habit in B. purdieana varies from low compact shrubs to tall forms with cut flower potential.
The influence of environment and chemical factors were examined on production of B. heterophylla. Shading (75% sunlight) had only a temporary enhancement of flower number per stem.
Flowering in B. heterophylla was delayed (up to 6 days) without a reduction in total flower number using GA4+7 + BAP. This response was dependent on time of application.
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