Summary

This project is to investigate a closed pot-culture system for growing ornamental gingers, and to develop baseline production technology methods. This work will address the problem of a decline in flower production during the cooler months experienced by tropical flower growers in northern Australia. The demand for tropical flowers in the market is also determined by this seasonal flowering. There is limited knowledge on how ornamental gingers will grow and flower in a closed pot-culture system in tropical climatic conditions. Previous studies have been conducted in USA and Hawaii on developing ornamental gingers as new potted plants for greenhouse production systems. In Thailand, the focus of closed production systems is the production of clean disease-free propagules of Curcuma alismatifolia cultivars an important export cut flower and more significantly as rhizomes for potted colour into Dutch and Japanese markets. This project aims to provide the basis for development of production protocols for this system. The NT Department of Resources (DoR), Plant Industries Division has developed a number of new inter-specific Zingiber and Curcuma hybrids that would be ideal candidates to trial in this closed production system.

This research project has the potential to increase the value of the tropical flower industry by supplying high quality ginger flowers in consistent volumes to the market through the year. In addition, through further refinement of this closed production system there is potential for new floriculture products to be developed leading to new market opportunities for the flower industry, but also the nursery industry with new potted plants.

Program

New and Emerging Plant Industries

Research Organisation

Northern Territory of Australia represented by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade

Objective Summary

The R&D objectives of this project will be to develop production protocols for growing the following ornamental gingers Zingiber and Curcuma in a pot-culture closed production system. The R&D objectives would include:
• To investigate production of propagules (planting material) both by division of rhizomes and micropropagation and compare their growth and development.
• To develop systems to manipulate dormancy in rhizomes of gingers in order to extend the seasonal availability.
• To determine the optimum conditions for ‘forcing’ or breaking of dormancy in rhizomes of gingers.
• To determine the influence of plant growth regulators to manipulate growth and flowering.
• To determine optimum nutritional levels for producing uniform, high quality Zingiber and Curcuma flowers.