The
Proteaceae breeding programs had the largest impact in the floriculture
industry. Breeding programs exist for the genera Protea,
Leucadendron and Leucospermum and 84 cultivars (28
Protea, 28 Leucadendron and 28 Leucospermum) were
released from these programs. Currently two cultivars are protected with Plant
Breeders Rights internationally and 22 nationally.
Various other ARC research projects in different cultivation
fields supported these breeding programs to ensure profitable cultivation of
Proteaceae. Projects included research on sexual reproduction and flowering,
protocols for hybridization, tissue culture protocols, fingerprinting, plant
pathology, entomology, vegetative propagation protocols, soil preparation,
optimum cultivation practices, pruning and leaf blackening. Bilateral agreements
with INRA (France), the management of an EU funded project, funds from USDA,
International Protea Association and the local Protea industry helped to fund
some of these projects. These research results form the basis of today’s
national and international Proteaceae industries and contributed significantly
to the international scientific world.
Fynbos
researchers published extensively, and publications in scientific and
semi-scientific journals, books, proceedings etc., and presentations at
international conferences led to the recognition of the Fynbos group as the
leader in fynbos research in the 1990’s. Posters and booklets containing
information on cultivars became popular with scientists, growers and the general
public.The practical bilingual booklet ‘A guide to diseases & pests of
commercial Fynbos in South Africa’ published in 2006 is very popular with
commercial growers. Training courses attended by national and international
growers led to a more scientific commercialization approach by growers and
involvement in community development assisted communities to secure an income
from Fynbos.
The ARC researchers played an important role in the establishment of Fynbos
as an international commercial crop and today Proteaceae is established as a
niche crop on the international floriculture market.
