47. Volume 14- Number 2 - IP Australia

PLANT VARIETIES JOURNAL 2001 VOL 14 NO. 2
after several years growth were then selected for specific
variegated leaf patterns. All subsequent propagation is by
vegetative cuttings. Breeder: D. J. South, Darwin Plant
Wholesalers, Lambell’s Lagoon, near Darwin, NT.
Choice of comparators Trees propagated from the original
source material (Cape Leveque ecotype) are commonly sold
by nurseries in Darwin both locally and to other regions of
north Australia. Seedlings derived from this common
material were used as the sole comparator. No other
common varieties have been identified.
Comparative Trial Location: trial was conducted at
Lambell’s Lagoon, inland and south east of Darwin.
Conditions: ‘Street Elegance’ was vegetatively propagated
in a mist house, and plants of the common form were grown
from seed. Individual plants of both varieties were
transferred through several pot sizes over a number of
months to 300mm planting tubs, and grown on for approx
15-18 months after initial establishment before
measurements commenced. Potting mixes in the 300mm
tubs were the standard soilless mix of sand and cocopeat
used at the nursery, the same for both varieties. Nutrition
maintained with slow release fertilisers, irrigation by lowpressure
overhead sprinklers. Trial design: ten plants from
each of the varieties were placed together in a completely
randomised block in full sunlight and received the same
cultural and management treatment for approximately 3
months before measurements were taken in the early wet
season. Measurements: minimum of two mature leaf
samples per plant used, selected at least three nodes distal
from the branch tip.
Prior application and sales Nil.
Description: Peter G Harrison, Above Capricorn Technologies,
Nightcliff, NT.
Table 25 Mimusops varieties
‘Street Elegance’ *Mimusops
elengi
Common form
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LEAF LENGTH – three nodes distal from the branch tip (mm)
mean 89.9 109.2
std deviation 11.4 12.9
LSD/sig 10.5 P≤0.01
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LEAF WIDTH – at widest point (mm)
mean 36.9 47.6
std deviation 4.6 5.7
LSD/sig 4.8 P≤0.01
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LEAF LENGTH: WIDTH RATIO
2.4 2.3
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LEAF TIP
rounded acute to
acuminate to shortly acuminate
cuspidate, pointed
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LEAF VARIEGATION
present absent
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48
LEAF COLOUR OF UPPER SURFACE (RHS, 1995)
main colour 137B/147C, 148C 144A
secondary colour 4C 144A
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Paspalum distichum
Water Couch
‘Flexi-Green’
Application No: 97/101Accepted:30 May 1997
Applicant: Todd Layt, Clarendon, NSW.
Characteristics (Table 26, Figure 50) Plant: habit
horizontal and compact, rhizomatous, stoloniferous, tight
turf forming a neat mown lawn. Internodes: short. Leaf:
green, distichous with a short flat blade. Sheath: ciliate.
Inflorescence: forked, with racemes medium in length.
Spikelets: shortly pedicellate. Other: drought tolerant.
Origin and Breeding Spontaneous mutation: hundreds of
thousands of Paspalum distichum were grown in viro-cells
at Clarendon, NSW. From these plants it was noticed that a
few spontaneous mutation occurred. One mutant stood out
from the rest. This mutant which is now known as ‘Flexi-
Green’ had more desirable characteristics for growing into a
lawn grass. In particular upon growing it on, it had a more
compact growth habit. After planting it in a mown lawn
situation, it was noticed that it produced a finer, tighter turf
variety, and it also had a higher density of deep rhizomes
that allowed it to withstand long dry periods. Selection
criteria: low horizontal growth, thin stolon, finer leaves,
drought tolerance. Propagation: vegetative. Breeder: Todd
Layt, Clarendon, NSW.
Choice of Comparators PF10 was chosen because it is the
parental ecotype. Two other commercially available
ecotypes TYL02 and BAROZ were also included in the
trial.
Comparative Trial Location: Clarendon, NSW, summer to
spring 2000-2001. Conditions: 50 pots of each of the plants
in the trial were grown from cuttings of stolons. Each pot
was fertilised with a teaspoon of Once( fertiliser two weeks
after planting in the pots and watered daily. In Aug 2000 all
pots were pruned to 2cm in the pot. Every two months a
teaspoon of Once® fertiliser was applied except in winter.
Trial design: randomised rows. Measurements: were taken
from samples of 20 plants chosen at random one sample
from each plant for each characteristic measured.
Prior Applications and Sales
No prior applications. First sold in Australia in Sep 1997.
Description: Brian Quinn, Newham, VIC.
Table 26 Paspalum varieties
‘Flexi- *BAROZ *TYL02 *PF10
green’
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PLANT HEIGHT (cm)
mean 14.60 25.40 28.65 24.45
std deviation 2.56 2.44 2.92 1.82
LSD/sig 1.99 P≤0.01 P≤0.01 P≤0.01
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