Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 12.7
Zamio (
Zamiocul-
cas zamiifolia
) leaf cuttings
being propagated (left) and
at 32 weeks ready for sale
(right). (Photo courtesy of A.
Bettin)
Propagation
Each plant presents a challenge. There are several methods available
including seed, vegetative cuttings, and tissue culture. The most appropriate method
needs to be selected for each species as in the case of the single species of Zamio
(
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
) (Fig.
12.7
). The Wollemi pine (
Wollemia nobilis
) has
been a success producing many plants by tip cuttings and is sold as an ornamental
plant around the world (Trueman and Peters
2006
). The use of
in
vitro
propagation
techniques has rescued the endangered
Rhododendron maddenii
from the Himala-
yas (Kumar et al.
2004
) and the use of vegetative techniques saved the threatened
pencil cedar (
Juniperus procera
) (Negash 2002). The application of biotechnol-
ogy that includes innovations in tissue culture micropropagation technology has the
potential to preserve and produce a number of valuable plants for floriculture that
include Christmas Bells (
Sandersonia aurantiaca
) (Finnie and van Staden
1989
),
the artificial seed encapsulation; transgenic technology for
Pinus patula
(Jones
et al.
1993
; Jones and van Staden
1995
; Sparg et al.
2002
; Malabadi and van Staden
2005
) and Nigro et al. (
2004
) and agriculture as in the case of the rare South African
plant
Lapeirousia silenoides
(Louw
1989
; Moyo et al.
2011
).
Cultivation schedules
Successful introduction of a plant into an environment
requires the development of an effective production schedule. This requires that the
timing and type of treatments applied result in a successful display as a bedding or
pot plant. The schedule must take account of the climate, soil medium, position or
aspect the plants are grown in and any stress factors that may impinge on the plants'
survival and display. Successful schedules have plants flowering or fruiting in time
for the market.
Water and nutritional requirements
The essential features of water requirements
depend on the plant and the environment in which it grows. The need for water
and nutrients can be greatly influenced by the media in which the plant is to be
grown. The drainage, slope and clay or percentage organic content of the soil in
which the plant is grown have a large bearing on the success of cultivating the new
plant. On sandy plain soils in Western Australia that contain less than 5 % water-
holding capacity, special irrigation and fertiliser management techniques have been
developed for growing the wild waxflower (
Chamelaucium
spp.) in Australian
plantations (Seaton and Poulish
2010
). This has resulted in yield increases of 30
to 45 % (Seaton et al.
2007
) and allowed large scale sustainable cut flower produc-
tion. In some cases it may be necessary to introduce new soil media more suited
