Plant Variety Journal - IP Australia

Plant Varieties Journal Vol. 23 Number 4
Details of Application
Application Number 2008/273
Variety Name
‘Riverina Heather’
Genus Species
Lavandula angustifolia
Common Name
English Lavender
Synonym
Nil
Accepted Date 08 Oct 2008
Applicant
Charles Sturt University
Agent
N/A
Qualified Person
Nigel Urwin, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW.
Details of Comparative Trial
Location
Charles Sturt University
Descriptor
Lavandula (Lavandula) TG/194/1
Period Sep 2009 – Dec 2010
Conditions
All plants were propagated by Larkman Nurseries, Lilydale,
Melbourne, and provided in 50x75mm tubes. All plants were potted
into 9cm diameter pots in Debco TM Terracotta and Tub potting mix.
Plants were then watered by automatic overhead sprinklers and
occasionally by hand. Osmocote TM slow release fertiliser and
fungicides were applied occasionally as required.
Trial Design
The trial consisted of 10 plants of L. angustifolia ‘Riverina Heather’,
10 L. angustifolia ‘Bee’ and 9 L. angustifolia ‘Hicote’. Plants were
arranged in a completely randomised block design (10x3).
Measurements
Observations were made on 29 Nov 2010 when all varieties were in
flower. Plants were observed for size and form early Oct 2010.
RHS Chart - edition Fifth edition.
Origin and Breeding
Induced mutation: The new variety ‘Riverina Heather’ came out of an experiment in which seed
was germinated in the presence of colchicine to induce polyploidy. Seed was sown in petri dishes
(0.2g per dish ~200 seeds) on 2 layers of Whatman number 1 filter paper. The filters were wetted
with 4 ml of 0.5 mg/ml gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) potassium salt (Sigma) containing various amounts
of colchicine. Two dishes were initiated per colchicine concentration. Colchicine solutions were
made by ½ serial dilutions of a 1g/L stock in the GA 3 solution. Plates were sealed with parafilm and
were incubated at 22°C in an incubator in 12 hours light/ 12 hours dark at 25 uE/ m 2 /s for 7 days.
Plates were removed to glasshouse and acclimatised to natural lighting in shade two days prior to
transfer to potting mix. Seedlings were transferred to potting mix (Debco TM ) in trays which
consisted of individual cells which were 3x3 cm. Plants were sub-irrigated by standing in a shallow
tray of water for 3 weeks. Trays were then placed on misting beds and plants were finally
transferred in pots. Considerable variation was observed between seedlings from this seed batch, in
the absence or presence of colchicine treatment. Plants varied in habit, size, flower colour (calyx
and petals), peduncle length and spike length. This variation between lavenders grown from seed is
recorded in the literature and is likely due to considerable crosspollination. Lavender varieties are
therefore generally propagated vegetatively to maintain the phenotype. Over 100 plants were grown
from the above seed batch, including ones which had been treated with colchicine and control
untreated plants. From these a plant was selected on the basis that it carried a sport with very large
flowers. The plant survived 0.0156 g/L colchicine and the sport was removed and vegetatively
propagated. The plant grown from this sport and all subsequently propagated plants from this sport
were called Riverina Heather or C6/24. The plant has the largest flowers, thickest peduncles and a
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