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Eye in the Field

For further information contact David Peasley - phone (02) 6677 7174 or mobile (0427) 126 245 or peasleyhort@bigpond.com.

R&D committee inspecting A frames.
Prior to the R&D Committee meeting, members checked out the progress of a range of varieties being trialled on the new A-frames at the Duranbah trial block on 21 February 2007. These vines were planted mid November 2006. The Sweet Smother grass ground cover was planted from runners on 9 January.

Kendle Wilkinson & John Tyas HAL handoverDr Kendle Wilkinson is our new industry services manager for passionfruit HAL taking over from John Tyas who has served our industry so well for many years. Kendall and John attended the recent R&D committee meeting and field inspection of the trial blocks at Duranbah.

John Thomas & Jay Anderson: Dr John Thomas QDPI conducted the assessment for virus status on newly planted vines at the Duranbah block early in February 2007. John has inoculated Flavicarpa rootstock with mild strain Woodiness virus he has salvaged from the QDPI virus collection at Indooroopilly. This strain was used in the initial mild-strain cross protection breeding work in the 1960’s.

Jay Anderson and plant breeder Peter Beal inspecting Flavicarpa x Incarnata rootstock vines for suckering. This cross has produced outstanding vigour as well as virus and cold tolerance. However, there are two drawbacks to its commercialisation. It is almost infertile and only produces occasional seed and some vines produce suckers which can travel several metres

Incarnata x flavacarpa flower: While this cross does not produce fertile fruit, it produces profuse flowering of deep mauve attractive flowers making it a possible specimen for colour in backyard gardens. Some vines of this cross however do produce suckers which is not desirable.

Paxton selection closeup: One of the selections which are showing early promise for cropping is this selection from the Nambour area submitted by Keith and Judy Paxton. It was growing in a neighbour’s backyard and tips were grafted late 2006 before planting in the trial block at Duranbah.

Passionfruit in packaging

Passionfruit in opened plastic packaging

Passionfruit packaging assortment: Panama and purple passionfruit may look attractive in plastic packaging, however consumers said a big NO to plastic packaging in the recent consumer focus groups in Brisbane and Sydney. When presented with a range of options for packaging passionfruit they rejected all packaging which prevented them smelling and feeling the fruit. The aroma of passionfruit proved to be a powerful selling point and consumers wanted to be able to feel the weight of the fruit.

Passionfruit: Panamas in plastic & net bag consumers in the focus groups responded well to buying their passionfruit in net bags. The net bags allowed them to smell and feel the fruit and were seen as value for money without the harmful effects of adding unnecessary plastic to the environment.

Ken Pegg's 70th Birthday celebration with the passionfruit R&D committee

One of the new promising selections is a very high yielder & produces fruit out of season to other purple varieties

Building the new 'A' frames at the trial block is APIA executive member Bill Mumford

Finishing the planting of new trial vines at Dbah block. Fiona Pegg Lucas Smith Jay Anderson Kathy Grice (planting) Ken Pegg John Thomas & David Peasley

The Indooroopilly DPI passionfruit team planting the last trial vine.

Outstanding cold & virus tolerance has been achieved in cross breeding program to develop new root stocks. Cuttings of this selection are to be trialled.