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Abstract
Developing systems for the commercial production of native plant species is required to ensure a sustainable supply of quality material. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of key nutrients on the early establishment of Tasmannia lanceolata for potential plantation production of leaves from which polygodial is extracted. Treatments of N, P and K fertilizers were imposed on a single clone in a pot trial with a factorial design. Levels of all other essential nutrients were kept constant. The highest application level of N (20 mM, 2.32% N in leaves) achieved the highest level of polygodial as a percentage of dry matter. The highest P (2 mM, 0.42% P in leaves) and K (12 mM, 1.73% K in leaves) treatments produced a noticeable decline in total polygodial yield, with medium-level treatments of both nutrients producing the highest levels of polygodial. The implications of these findings for the production of commercial quantities of T. lanceolata leaf material are discussed.
Acknowledgments
Diemen Pepper and Essential Oils of Tasmania provided the plant material and helped fund the project. The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and the Natural Plant Extracts Cooperative Society provided funding for the project and RIRDC awarded the Tony Byrne PhD scholarship to Matthew Wilson. We are grateful to Matthew Gregory and Noel Davies for help in GC and Phil Andrews for help in glasshouse management.