Plant industry trials

The Plant Industries branch works in partnership with industry to develop the agriculture, horticulture and forestry sectors.

The following information is a summary of current partnerships and research activities.

Central Australia

This project aims to trial a Tissue Culture protocol for date palms in Australian conditions.

Funding body and partners

This project is funded by AgriFutures Australia, the Australian Date Growers Association are the project lead, with NT DITT and Sydney University as collaborators.

Useful links

Contact

Girija.Page@nt.gov.au

Jackfruit

The project is a demonstration of the next generation of orchard production technology proposed for northern Australian tropical fruit producers to increase annual productivity and profitability whilst managing cyclone risks. The key objectives of the project are to demonstrate the management and productivity benefits associated with high-density and trellised plantings for cyclone resilience whilst simultaneously evaluating the commercial suitability of new jackfruit selections and propagation methods at multiple sites across North Australia.

Trial and demonstration sites are in Carnarvon and Kununurra, Western Australia; Darwin and Katherine, Northern Territory; and Bellenden Ker, Atherton, Mutchilba and Townsville, Queensland. Each demonstration site will use a mixture of seedlings, grafted trees and vegetatively propagated trees planted to evaluate the selected varieties for commercial production.

Funding body and partners

This project includes co-investment as cash and in-kind co-contributions from the Co-operative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia, the Queensland Government, Western Australia Government and Northern Territory Government. The project is led by the Queensland  Department of Agriculture and Fisheries with project partners the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade and Northern Territory Farmers Association; the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in Western Australia and GrowCom in Queensland. Commercial horticulture partners include Manbulloo Limited and Aus-Ex.

Objectives

  1. NT DITT will trial three lines of jackfruit propagated from cuttings and grafted plants in both high density freestanding, and trellised formations
  2. the project will investigated propagation techniques to improve outcomes.

Further information

Useful links

Contact

Chelsea.Moore@nt.gov.au

Jackfruit is a tropical, exotic fruit crop, grown commercially in countries such as Asia, India and Bangladesh. In Australia the industry is concentrated across the northern regions of the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. Whilst it is a major crop in other countries, in Australia it has been considered a minor or emerging industry for more than a decade. One key impediment to the growth of the Australian industry is market acceptance and consumer behaviour. Over the past 20 years a number of reports have consistently identified similar themes in terms of growing the domestic jackfruit industry through processed products. This project aims to reduce these barriers through the continued development of convenient, and appropriately portioned processed products.

Objectives

  1. to develop industry capacity and supply chains, including grower partner plantings, the engagement of commercial processors in product development and industry engagement
  2. to refine the development of three promising products through to commercialisation
  3. to determine the harvest window and quality specifications for fruit intended for processed products
  4. to engage retailers in the project through small in-store consumer acceptance trials.

Funding body and partners

This project is funded by AgriFutures Australia, with the support and collaboration of the University of Melbourne.

Further information

Useful links

Contact

Chelsea.Moore@nt.gov.au

Mangoes

The overall objective of this project is to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the Australian mango industry through improved capability, innovative culture, demand creation and more consistent quality.

During Strategic Investment Plan (22-26) renewal consultations, the Australian Mango Industry strongly valued their extension program (MG17000) and prioritised its continuation. The Australian Mango Industry has high aspirations for improved domestic and international demand and increased profitability, efficiency, and sustainability. These aspirations are founded on the generation and use of innovative R&D, the benefits of which are maximized through an innovative culture, fostering continuous improvement and proactive risk management. This project is aimed at enabling the extension support required for the Australian Mango Industry to achieve their aspirations.

Objectives

  1. building industry capability to support cohesion and increase knowledge, attitudes, skills, and aspirations (KASA) to use the investment outputs across the supply and demand initiatives to better manage risk and create positive change
  2. improving industry productivity, profitability, and sustainability through the adoption of new technologies and best management practices in the priority areas of:
    1. maximising yield
    2. consistent quality
    3. demand creation
  3. providing opportunities for engagement between and across mango industry members and relevant stakeholders.

Funding body and partners

This project is funded by Hort Innovation, with the Australian Mango Industry Association as project lead, NT DITT and Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries are collaborators.

Further information

AMIA Best Practice Resources

Useful links

Contact

Michael.Finey@nt.gov.au

The Australian mango industry was worth $217 million in 2022 with domestic production mainly located in northern Australia. Pests and diseases are major factors influencing mango production in Australia. These can affect tree vigour and survival, canopy and root growth, fruit set, yield, and pre- and post-harvest quality. Mango cultivars can differ significantly in their responses towards major pests and diseases.  A well-researched study documenting these varietal differences is critical for potential industry interventions. Using advanced molecular tools, including high-throughput sequencing and transcriptomics, this project will investigate the responses of different mango varieties to known pathogens and a pool of plant defence activators. Understanding how mango varieties respond to these biotic stimuli will provide information useful in developing appropriate industry strategies for combating mango diseases in the near future, as well as allowing growers to make informed decisions about which varieties to use in future plantings, particularly in disease-prone areas.

Objectives:

  1. this project will determine the resting/base expression levels of major defence-related gene families in commercial mango varieties (KP, R2E2 and Calypso and the three new NMBP lines)
  2. it will compare this baseline data with data from plants exposed to biotic stress stimuli including pathogens and defence activators such as salicylic acid, phosphite, bion and jasmonic acid
  3. the project will identify the mango varieties with robust immune responses to the tested biotic stimuli, as well as varieties that respond well to the defence activators.

Funding body and partners

This project is funded by the National Industry PhD Program, with the support and collaboration of the Queensland University of Technology.

Useful links

Contact

Chelsea.Moore@nt.gov.au

Australia has a reputation for producing safe and nutritious premium fresh produce, however consistently delivering high quality fruit and vegetables is an ongoing challenge. This has been amplified by recent supply chain disruption associated with the covid-19 pandemic. There is a need to support grower decision making through monitoring and evaluating cultivar postharvest performance. This will inform supply chain handling strategies for different modes of transport. Assessing the potential of improved and sustainable cooling, storage and packaging technologies to enhance quality will also be critical to ensure viable export pathways remain for Australian producers. This project is co-invested by industry bodies, and will establish a central online information portal that provide industry-wide access to the decision aid tools.

Funding body and partners

The Serviced Supply Chains II project (AM21000) is funded by the Hort Frontiers International Markets Fund, with co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland (DAF), the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Northern Territory (DITT) and Pinata Farms Pty Ltd.

Objectives:

  1. develop predictive shelf life models for a range of fresh horticultural produce
  2. apply the models to develop decision aid tools and updated export handling guidelines
  3. establish an information portal that facilitates industry-wide access to the decision aid tools.

Further information

National Hort Innovation project webpage

Useful links

YouTube channel

Facebook page

Contact

Saeedeh.Taghadomi-Saberi@nt.gov.au

In recent years, mango twig tip dieback has been a significant issue reported by mango growers in the NT. Typically starting out as a dark-coloured lesion on one side of mango twigs, leaves die as the disease extends along the twig, killing the whole branch and frequently causing the death of the tree.

These symptoms appear different to what typical mango dieback symptoms (caused by pathogens from the Stem End Rot family). It has been named mango Twig Tip Dieback (TTD) to distinguish it from the common dieback.

It is important to note that NT DITT have undertaken a number of specific tests for exotic pathogens, no exotic pathogens have been found in the samples.

Funding body

This work has been internally funded by NT DITT as a collaborative project between the Plant Pathology and Plant Industries groups.

Objectives

  1. screen plants to rule out known exotic pathogens and maintain market access
  2. identify the scope of the issue through surveys and mapping
  3. identify the cause of MTTD
  4. set up a MTTD working group to improve communication from NT DITT to NT growers
  5. identify possible chemical controls for Common Dieback
  6. identify avenues for externally funded research.

Further information

Useful links

YouTube channel

Facebook page

Contact

Stan.Bellgard@nt.gov.au or Michael.Finey@nt.gov.au

Emerging horticulture industries

Finger limes are a native Australian plant common to Queensland and New South Wales. They produce fruit with individual vesicles described as “citrus caviar” which are currently popular as a garnish

for food and drinks. The report “new opportunities 2020: the next wave”, lists finger limes as a new and emerging crop with the potential for growth in Australia given the boutique, visual appearance, and possibilities for citrus growers to diversify into this plant.

The crop has consistently high market prices between $20-77 per kg in the Australian domestic markets (AusMarket 2020 data). These plants are being utilised by existing Australian citrus growers, as a way to diversify their product with a crop that has a similar agronomy, however they are not currently an industry in the Northern Territory, and it is unknown whether a Queensland rainforest plant will adapt to the Northern Territory conditions.

Funding body

This project is internally funded.

Objectives

  1. to assess the suitability of 7 finger lime varieties in Top End environmental conditions and inform local industry about the viability or otherwise of this emerging crop
  2. to engage with the current Tropical Exotic Fruit and Citrus industry in the Northern Territory, building relationships and facilitating information exchange
  3. to develop basic, local grower information on the agronomy of growing finger limes in the Top End.

Useful links

Contact

Chelsea.Moore@nt.gov.au

An NT DITT program was initiated in 2006, to identify potential biofuel feedstock crops suitable to the Northern Territory environment. Pongamia was one of the plants trialled as part of this program.

Pongamia are nitrogen fixing trees which grow in a rain-fed system on marginal lands. They produce seeds that contain significant quantities of oil. The oil is suitable for use as biodiesel, and has the potential benefit of cattle feed by-products. Queensland is thought to have some of the highest yielding indigenous pongamia species in Australia.

Ten superior Queensland lines and 10 NT lines were planted out at CCPRF and assessed for flowering and yields. Poor pod- setting was a major concern, with local specimens producing large numbers of flowers but few pods (Annual Research Report 2008-2009). However the trees were not at mature bearing ages at that point in time, further studies into flowering and yield were required from the trees as they matured.

Funding body

This project is internally funded.

Objectives

  1. to assess the flowering, and fruit set of the mature pongamia lines currently growing at CPRF
  2. to assess the pollinator activity on the mature pongamia lines currently growing at CPRF
  3. to continue to engage with interested stakeholders around the findings
  4. to develop an information report summarising the work from 2006-2008 as well as the 2023 data.

Further Information

Useful links

Contact

Chelsea.Moore@nt.gov.au

This project is investigating the suitability of different varieties of Agave across the Northern Territory. Agave is a succulent native to the American continent, with different varieties from regions including Mexico, Arizona, Texas and California. It is drought tolerant, suited to arid and desert climates.

At maturity, Agave plants produce a sugary sap which can be distilled into spirits (including tequila), used as a syrup, or as a biofuel. As a by-product, the leaves are used in some countries as a source of feed for livestock. This project will determine which (if any) varieties suitable for commercial use can be grown in Darwin, Katherine and Central Australian conditions. Critically, it will demonstrate the capacity of the crop to be grown without irrigation. If successful, the work will allow growers the potential to diversify into crops that are less reliant on water and improve their resilience in dry years. This is the first stage of an investigation into the possibility of agave as a commercially viable crop in the Territory.

Funding body

The project, developing sustainable and diversified farming systems for the NT, received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund to establish the trials.

Objectives

  1. trial Agave tequiliana and Agave durangensis, in multiple locations across the Northern Territory, including Darwin, Katherine, Ali Curung and Alice Springs, assessing the plants in different environmental conditions
  2. enable growers to have a hands on experience with the crop on farm, through small scale grower demonstration plots.

Further information

Useful links

Contact

Chelsea.Moore@nt.gov.au

Pitaya, or dragon fruit is a climbing cacti which produces an edible fruit. The Australian industry is located in Queensland, northern New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. In 2017 the federal government approved the importation of fresh pitaya into Australia, causing concerns amongst growers about the economic impact to their industry from cheaper imported products as well as the potential for exotic disease. 2020 domestic market prices valued the fruit between $7- 15 per kg (AusMarket). The AgriFutures report “New opportunities in new and emerging agricultural industries in Australia”, lists dragon fruit as a crop with potential for growth in Australia given its visually striking appearance and “super food” status. Some of the critical gaps identified were the need for new genetics (sweeter varieties). The Australian emerging tropical fruits strategic RD and E plan listed a lack of local agronomy information as a key issue for this industry.

Funding body

This is an internally funded project.

Objectives

  1. source and establish 30+ pitaya varieties in a field trial
  2. assess the growth and yield of different varieties
  3. assess the fruit quality for the purpose of commercial production
  4. engage with the  local industry to extend information on agronomy.

Further information

Useful links

Contact

Chelsea.Moore@nt.gov.au

Edible ginger (Zingiber officinale) is used as a fresh product and as an ingredient in a wide range of products for the food manufacturing sector. Farm-gate gross volume of product (GVP) is presently estimated at $32 million with 20% of ginger grown in Australia sold to the processing sector and 80% sold to the domestic fresh market. There are around 50 growers, primarily based in Queensland (QLD) growing two main cultivars, Canton and QLD Gold. Ginger production in Australia has been adversely affected by soil-borne pest and disease issues including fusarium, pythium, and root-knot nematodes.

Pest and disease management is a major production cost for Australian ginger producers. Growing in a containerised production system in shade-house structures using sterilised media can potentially overcome some of these issues. The opportunity exists for Northern Territory (NT) producers to grow ginger for clean planting seed stock to supply QLD growers and/or to provide a quality product for both processed and fresh ginger to the Australian market during periods of low ginger production in South-east Queensland.

Funding body

This project is internally funded.

Objectives

  1. produce clean tissue cultured material, for release under an Expression of Interest for commercial growers
  2. provide commercial growers with “clean” ginger tissue culture material for production purposes, under a Material Transfer Agreement
  3. establish plants from each variety at CPRF as a demonstration plot to drive peer to peer networks via field walks.
  4. assess growth and yield of different varieties.

Further information

Article- local ginger trial delivering promising results

Useful links

Contact

Chelsea.Moore@nt.gov.au

Vanilla extract and vanilla essence are products of the Vanilla orchid of which there are currently three commercial species. These plants produce pods or “beans” which are harvested then cured to extract the vanilla essence. The crop requires hand pollination outside its natural host range of South America and the curing process is labour intensive. Due to the high levels of manual labour required, the majority of the international production occurs in regions with lower wages allowing producers to reduce their overheads. Whilst there are artificial imitations on the market, real vanilla extract and essence demand a price premium. In the Australian domestic market vanilla sells for $70 per 50 g (AusMarket 2020 data). The report “Australian vanilla RD & E plan”, identifies the potential for a niche vanilla crop trading on Australia’s image for high quality produce. The current Australian industry is small, comprising of around 15 growers. NT DITT have limited information on this plant and its performance under our environmental conditions in terms of harvest timing and potential yields.

Funding body

This project is internally funded.

Objectives

  1. to assess the suitability of vanilla in Top End environmental conditions and inform local industry about the viability or otherwise of this emerging crop
  2. to engage with the current Tropical Exotic Fruit industry in the Northern Territory, building relationships and facilitating information exchange
  3. to develop basic, local grower information on the agronomy of growing vanilla in the Top End.

Further information

Useful links

Contact

Chelsea.Moore@nt.gov.au

General growing advice

More growing advice and other information is available on the following websites:


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