Plant Variety Journal - IP Australia

Details of Application
Application Number 2006/287
Variety Name ‘Riverina Eunice’
Genus Species Lavandula angustifolia
Common Name English Lavender
Synonym Petite Forêt
Accepted Date 02 Jan 2007
Applicant Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW
Agent N/A
Qualified Person Nigel Urwin
Details of Comparative Trial
Location Charles Sturt University
Descriptor Lavandula (Lavandula) TG/194/1,
Period May 2008 – Nov 2008.
Conditions All plants were produced from cuttings obtained from stock
plants held by Larkman’s Nurseries, Lilydale Melbourne.
Cuttings were taken at the same time in March 2008 for all
varieties and these were dipped in rooting hormone and
placed in a proprietary seed-raising/Perlite mix. Cuttings were
placed on misting beds at 25ºC until roots developed
following which plants were transfer to 5cm square tubes and
acclimatised to ambient conditions over the next 4 weeks.
Tubes were transferred to Charles Sturt University, Wagga
Wagga by the Nigel Urwin in May 2008. Plants were
transplanted into 9cm diameter pots in Debco Terracotta
and Tub potting mix. Plants were watered every alternate day
and were transferred to 20cm diameter pots in same potting
mix on 2nd Aug. Plants were grown under automatic
overhead irrigation and were fertilised and treated with a
fungicide as required.
Trial Design The trial consisted of 8 plants of ‘Riverina Eunice’, 9 plants
of ‘Hidcote’, 10 of ‘Lady’ and 10 of ‘Imperial Gem’. Plants
were arranged in a completely randomised block design.
Measurements Observations were made between the 14 th and 17 th Nov and
all varieties were in flower. Data on corolla colour were taken
on the 22 nd of Nov 2008 when more flowers had opened.
RHS Chart - edition Fifth.
Origin and Breeding
The starting material was a batch of seed (L. angustifolia) purchased from Gippsland
seed (ABN.57027073558) 181 Queens Road, Silvan, VIC 3795 Australia. This was
from L. angustifolia plants of unspecified varieties. It was sold under the common
name ‘Lavender Vera’. There is no know variety of L. angustifolia called ‘Vera’ and
the name ‘Lavender Vera’ is an old name synonymous with L. angustifolia (see
UPOV guidelines for DUS tests for Lavandula TG/194/1 page 3 or Upson, T and
Andrews, S 2004 The Genus Lavandula. Timber Press. Oregon page 124). The seed
used was therefore of no known variety. The variety which is the subject of this
application ‘Riverina Eunice’ came out of an experiment in which seed was
germinated in the presence of colchicine to induce polyploidy. Seed was sown in Petri
Page 209 of 550
Plant Varieties Journal Vol. 21 No.3