Outstanding macadamias on the way

In recently completed trials twenty new macadamia trees have been selected, the best yielding double that of current commercial varieties. These selections could increase profitability by 30 per cent.

Chosen by CSIRO Plant Industry for their outstanding performance, the trees are the result of crosses made in 1992. The improvement program has also provided an understanding of macadamia's useful genes, and knowledge of how traits are inherited.

Led by Brisbane-based Dr Craig Hardner, the program's innovative use of historical and genetic data has improved the efficiency of tree breeding and even more advances are in the pipeline.

Using an economic model of the macadamia industry, Dr Hardner and his team generated a selection index to identify the most profitable genotypes.

Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries will now run trials of the selected genotypes in different regions to confirm the elite performers and their utility.

This will ensure growers get the most profitable varieties when they become commercially available in about eight years. Growers have shown enthusiasm for the selections so far and some are hoping to get involved in these early trials.

This project was facilitated by Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) with the Australian Macadamia Society and funded by the macadamia levy. The Australian Government matches funds for all HAL's research and development activities.

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