Preliminary investigation of the suitability ofCordyline australis(Asphodelaceae) as a crop for fructose production

Abstract

A trial exploring the potential of the New Zealand species Cordyline australis (ti kouka) as a modern-day annual crop for fructose production was conducted. Plants of four wild provenances were grown at densities of 2 500, 10 000, and 40 000 plants/ha for 1 year after transplanting. Maximum fructose yields for the provenances evaluated were estimated to be 4 t/ha at densities of 80 000 plants/ ha. There is scope to improve yield and harvest index by selection of variation present in wild populations. The traditional Maori practise of coppicing C. australis as a perennial stem crop may be a better option than growing the species as an annual crop. Consideration of fructose syrup taste, byproducts, regional and ethnic associations, and speciality market options suggest that cropping of C. australis warrants further investigation.

Below‐ground morphology ofCordyline australis(New Zealand cabbage tree) and its suitability for river bank stabilisation

“…It complements studies on the aboveground aspects of this plant (Tomlinson & Fisher 1971 ;Harris & Mann 1994;Harris et al 1998Harris et al ,2003Harris & Beever 2000;Simpson 2000) as well as the limited studies on the below-ground aspects (Tomlinson & Fisher 1971 ;Harris & Mann 1994;Marden et al in press). This study has supported what was largely anecdotal and observational evidence of the below-ground structures of C. australis (e.g., Simpson 2000).…”

“…Harris & Mann (1994) reported the excavation of a tree 6 m high from a home garden. This tree had several rhizomes that extended vertically to a depth of 90 cm.…”

“…One solution to this might be to coppice trees at regular intervals (approximately every 10 years) to avoid solitary growth (and large trunks) and to encourage multiplestemmed development. Before European settlement, Maori carried out coppicing of cabbage tree stems on a 4-year rotation as a food crop (Harris & Mann 1994). The ability of cabbage trees to initiate new shoot growth following stem removal coupled with its below-ground structure that allows it to exploit a considerable volume of soil for nutrients and water make it suitable for use in stream-side rehabilitation and restoration projects.…”

“…(cabbage tree, ti kouka), a distinctive monocotyledon tree endemic to New Zealand. While there has been significant research on its above-ground characteristics (e.g., Harris et al 1998Harris et al , 2003Harris & Beever 2000), research specifically on the below-ground attributes of C. australis has largely been limited to young plants (Tomlinson & Fisher 1971) and accounts of its use for food (Harris & Mann 1994;Simpson 2000). This study focussed on what has been described as "structural roots" (Phillips & Watson 1994), in this case those greater than about 1 mm in diameter.…”

Genotypic variation of the flowering phenology ofCordyline australis(Laxmanniaceae) grown at three locations in New Zealand

“…These energy reserves are mostly in the form of glucofructofuran polysaccharides (Fankhauser & Brasch 1985), which are obtained from rhizome and stem tissues and increase towards the stem apex (Harris & Mann 1994). More frequent sampling to determine the seasonal variation of polysaccharide levels in relation to the initiation and development of inflorescences is required to confirm that their levels are a factor in determining floral competence and/or triggering floral initiation.…”