Ensuring high health planting material for citrus (CT04022)

This is a final research report from Hort Innovation’s historical archives. Please note that as these reports may date back as far as the 1990s, the content and recommendations within them may be superseded by more recent research.

What was it all about?

The project “CT04022 Ensuring high health planting material for citrus” was designed to assist Auscitrus in the development of essential infrastructure for a new citrus seed and budwood multiplication development in Dareton NSW. Auscitrus provided a significant proportion of the citrus industries propagation material, by supplying citrus seed and budwood that had been tested for disease and assessed for trueness to type. Through the use of this material, the Australian citrus industry was able to establish and maintain orchards of a high health status, of known performing citrus clones.

Key components of this project included:

• The development of business plans for the new development
• Development of infrastructure essential to the development, including
  
  • Electricity supply
  • Clearing re-growth
  • Preparing nursery and shedding sites
  • Fencing
• Soil surveys
• Installation costs associated with establishment of new citrus foundation repository houses

From the basic infrastructure set up through this project, Auscitrus began development of a modern facility, designed from the outset for the production of citrus propagules under strict biosecurity and quality regimes. This eventually solved past issues with under supply of seed/budwood, and improved efficiencies and allowed greater control over operating costs.

As this new development comes on line over the next few years, Australian citrus growers and nurseries were available, and this asset to the industry could be utilised by growers and nurseries in all growing regions across Australia.