The Effect of Flower Maturity and Harvest Timing on Floral Extract fromBoronia megastigma(Nees)

Abstract

Development of floral organs during maturation of flower buds into fully open boronia flowers is described. The petals and functional anthers attain their maximum size prior to the non-functional anthers and the stigma. Organoleptic properties of the floral extract change with successive stages of bud development. The concentrations of extract and volatiles in the extract (% by f. wt) increase as buds mature, the extract concentration being highest in large buds and open flowers and the concentration of volatile compounds being highest in open flowers. The rate of flower and extract development was measured. Yields of flower material and floral extract per plant, and the concentration of total volatiles including β-ionone reach maximum levels when 70% of flowers have reached anthesis. All measured factors decline after this point, except extract concentration (% of f. and d. wt) which is maintained up to 83% open flowers.