Informal progress reports for Productschap Tuinbouw project number 13824.

Project 2: Nutrient and irrigation requirements of cultivated and wild-harvested Proteaceae: Interactive fertilizer scheduling
Principal researcher: Mike Cramer
Funding allocation: € 16 000

Project 3: Screening Proteaceae material for resistance against Phytophthora root and collar rot
Principal researcher: Karien Bezuidenhoudt
Funding allocation: € 20 000

Project 4: Effect of MSB on vascular fungal disease control, oxidative stress control, decrease of the vegetative stage and yield increase of protea cultivars Leucospermum ‘Succession II’ and Protea ‘Brenda’.
Principal researcher: Carlos Gonzalez
Funding allocation: € 20 000

Project 5: Postharvest biology and technology of Leucadendron and Leucospermum under cold storage
Principal researcher: Lynn Hoffman, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Funding allocation: € 16 000

Project 6: Enhancing Proteaceae flower and foliage postharvest life.
Principal researcher: Robert Paull
Funding allocation: € 22 000

Project 7: Control of leaf blackening as a postharvest disorder in Protea
Principal researcher: Lynn Hoffman, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Funding allocation: € 14 000

Project 8: Post harvest processing and treatment of Leucospermum and Protea to transport to Dutch market by sea shipping
Principal researcher: Antonio Domingues
Funding allocation: € 20 000

Project 9: Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’: optimization of pre- and post-harvest management for quality improvement of the cut branches following prolonged sea transport
Principal researcher: Sonia Philosoph-Hadas, ARO, The Volcani Center, Israel
Funding allocation: € 20 000

IPA has recently been informed that Productschap Tuinbouw (PT) a Dutch cooperative venture linking all sectors of the horticulture industry in Holland has approved funding for 8 projects that were submitted by the organization. This is tremendous news for the protea industry. The total funding approved is $216,080 for the 8 projects over 3 years.

The 8 successful proposals and funding allocation for each project is listed below (please note that the USA dollar amounts are based on EURO exchange rates):

1. Botany Department, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Prof Michael Cramer.
Pot and field trials to determine nutrient and irrigation requirements for Proteaceae
for the development of practical, interactive fertilizer scheduling.
Funding of $23,360 over 3 years

2. The Horticulture and Fynbos Unit of the Agricultural Research Council based in
Stellenbosch, South Africa. Karien Bezuidenhout.
Screening Proteaceae material for resistance against Phytophthora root and collar rot
Funding of $29,200 over 3 years

3. Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología, del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas (IPNA-CSIC). Carlos Gonzalez.
Investigation into the suitability of an environmentally friendly plant defense
activator for disease control and yield enhancement in the protea industry.
Funding of $29,200 over 3 years

4. Department of Horticulture, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Dr Lynn Hoffman.
Control of leaf blackening as a postharvest disorder in Protea
Funding of $23,360 over 3 years

5. Department of Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences (TPSS) at the University of Hawaii, USA. Dr
Robert Paull. Enhancing Proteaceae flower and foliage postharvest life.
Funding of $32,120 over 3 years

6. Department of Horticulture, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Dr Lynn Hoffman.
Post-harvest biology and technology of Leucadendron and Leucospermum under
prolonged cold storage. Funding of $20,440 over 3 years

7. Frutercoop (Cooperativa de Hortofrutifloricultores da Ilha Terceira, C. R. L.), with
collaboration of SDAT (Serviço de Desenvolvimento Agrário da Terceira) and
Universidade dos Açores. Antonio Domingues. Post harvest processing and treatment of Leucospermum and Protea to transport to
Dutch market by sea shipping. Funding of $29,200 over 3 years

8. Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), The Volcani Center, Israeli Ministry of
Agriculture. Dr Sonia Philosoph-Hadas. Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’: optimization of pre- and post-harvest management for
quality improvement of the cut branches following prolonged sea transport. Funding of $29,200 over 3 years

On behalf of the IPA, Dr Marius Huyshamer (Director: Research & Technical, Protea Producers of
South Africa) will be overseeing the research program, and managing the format and
delivery of progress reports and final reports.

This is a major accomplishment for the Protea Industry, the IPA Board of directors and particularly Audrey Gerber, Floricultural Adviser in Australia and Jaap Stelder of OZ Import in The Netherlands who were instrumental in successfully securing the funds.
For more details on the individual Proposals you can visit the California Protea Association WEB Site at californiaprotea.org.

Report Submitted by
Rua Petty
California IPA Representative
IPA Board member.