Post-harvest browning syndrome and other quality defects of Backhousia myrtifolia

Backhousia myrtifolia is a species native to Australia that shows potential as a cut flower crop. During Spring and Summer, it bears numerous small florets with prominent white sepals and glossy deep-green foliage. B. myrtifolia is harvested either when tight white buds are present in the centre of the star-shaped sepals, or following bud burst, after the petals and stamens have abscised to leave only the sepals.Wilting and brown-to-black discolouration of the flowers and foliage can markedly reduce stem quality. Several forms of discolouration were characterised over the 2004 - 2006 flowering seasons and were collectively termed 'post-harvest browning syndrome'. Further research based on the symptomatology described herein is required to elucidate the causal agent(s)