This document summarizes macadamia breeding research conducted over 19 years in Australia. The research aims to develop new macadamia varieties with improved yield, quality, disease resistance, and tree size. Over 5,800 seedlings from 4 breeding populations have been evaluated across 11 trial sites. The best performing seedlings show over 30% increased yield compared to standard varieties. The first cultivars from this research are expected to be released in 2017 pending further validation in regional variety trials. Ongoing work includes genomic selection, disease screening, rootstock evaluation, and exploring wild macadamia relatives to expand genetic diversity for future breeding.

1. The opportunities
Prepared by: Name….Dr Bruce Topp
Title….Associate Professor
Date….8 October 2014

2. What are the new varieties capable of?

3. What is the common link?
Australian Rules Football
Macadamias

4. • Born in Scotland, 1827
This man
• Studied chemistry and medicine at
Edinburgh and Glasgow
• 1855, Teacher at Scotch College,
Melbourne
• 1858, Umpire for the 1st game of
Australian Rules Football (Scotch
College v Melbourne Grammar)

5. John Macadam (1827-1865)
• 1857-1863, Secretary and Vice-
President of Royal Society of Victoria
• Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller
(Director of Melbourne Botanic
Gardens) was also a member of the
Royal Society and named the
Macadamia after his colleague
• Parliamentarian, Lecturer at the
School of Medicine at Melb Uni and
Postmaster General of Victoria.

6. 2014 AMS 40th Anniversary Industry Conference proudly
presented by
Outline
• Background
• Project team
• Generations in breeding
• Priorities
• Results from breeding
• Pollination
• Cultivar release timeline
• Seedling v RVT results
• Future research

7. 2014 AMS 40th Anniversary Industry Conference proudly
presented by
Project team
• B. Topp, C. Hardner, J. Neal, A. Kelly, R. Daley, D. Russell, P.
O’Hare, A. Kilian, A. Drenth, F. Akinsanmi, R. Huwer, C. Maddox

8. Generations of breeding
Gen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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UFSun
UFGold
Fla. 84-18c
op Diamante
Fla. 9-20c op
x
Fla. K5w35
Fla. B-11
Fla. A5-107
(K-gold)
Fla. 4-65
Fla. 2-13 op
FV 243-114
Southland
Palomar
Fla. 68-50 op
Panamint Fla.88-21
Fla. R9T10 op
FV244-4
Hawaiian
NCA2219 Fla. 90-50cn
Peach

9. Generations of breeding
Gen 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2014 AMS 40th Anniversary Industry Conference proudly
presented by
UFSun
UFGold
Fla. 84-18c
op Diamante
Fla. 9-20c op
x
Fla. K5w35
Fla. B-11
Fla. A5-107
(K-gold)
Fla. 4-65
Fla. 2-13 op
FV 243-114
Southland
Palomar
Fla. 68-50 op
Panamint Fla.88-21
Fla. R9T10 op
FV244-4
Hawaiian
NCA2219 Fla. 90-50cn
Peach
Gen 1 2
Wild
macs
Aust
Jordan
1892
Intro to
Hawaii
Nutridge
orchard
Kau
(344)
Macadamia

10. Breeding opportunities exist
• Very little genetic improvement so far
• Centre of origin is here in NSW and QLD
• We have all the wild germplasm
• New cultivars for improved global competitiveness
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11. Breeding priorities
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• Yield

12. Breeding priorities
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• Yield
• Husk spot
• Quality
• Fruit spotting bug
• Tree size

13. Traits evaluated
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• All trials
– NIS yield
– Kernel recovery
– Tree height
– Canopy width
• Top 150 seedlings
– Foliage density
– Branch angle
– Tree health
– Stick tights
– Husk spot
– Phytophthora
– Wind damage
– Kernel weight
– % wholes and twins
– Taste
– Kernel quality (insect, mould
and 17 defects)

14. Controlled hybridisation
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15. Location of seedling trials
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• 4 populations
• planted 1997 to
2014
• n = 5,868 seedlings
• 11 locations,
– Alstonville (south)
– Baffle Creek (north)

16. Location of seedling trials
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• 4 populations
• planted 1997 to
2014
• n = 5,868 seedlings
• 11 locations,
– Alstonville (south)
– Baffle Creek (north)

17. Variation in mean yield across sites
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• Low yield at Yandina
(1.2 kg/tree)
• Highest at Hinkler
(19.8 kg/tree)
• Genetic value is
predicted to allow
comparison across
trials

18. Seedling performance
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• Compare best seedlings
with standards in B1.2
• Similar kernel recovery
and canopy volume
• Increase in cumulative
NIS yield to age 8
(kg/tree)
• Require validation in
Regional Variety Trials

19. Cultivar release
timeline
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials Determine best performers Assess in RVTs
(regional variety trials)
Time

20. Cultivar release
timeline
Now
Generation:
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials Determine best performers Assess in RVTs
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials
planted
2011/16
plant
97/98
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials Determine best performers Assess in RVTs
planted
2000/03

21. Cultivar release
timeline
Now
Generation:
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials Determine best performers Assess in RVTs
Release in 2017
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials
planted
2011/16
planted
97/98
n= 1,611 seedlings
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials Determine best performers Assess in RVTs

22. Cultivar release
timeline
Now
Generation:
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials Determine best performers Assess in RVTs
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials
planted
2011/16
plant
97/98
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials Determine best performers Assess in RVTs
planted
2000/03
Top 21 n= 1,961 seedlings selected Sept 2014

23. Cultivar release
timeline
Now
Generation:
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials Determine best performers Assess in RVTs
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials
planted
2011/16
plant
97/98
Produce seedling families Assess seedling trials Determine best performers Assess in RVTs
planted
2000/03
2,300 planted so far,
aiming for 10,000

24. Top 21 seedlings from MIVIC meeting 2014
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Hinkler seedling selection
20
15
10
5
0
4 5 6 7 8 9
NIS yield (kg/tree)
Tree age (years)

25. Future
• Genomic selection
• Husk spot disease
nursery
• Rootstock screening
• Wild species
– M. jansenii
– M. ternifolia
60% kernel recovery
in M. ternifolia hybrids

26. Summary
• Breeding for 19 years
• Only 4-6 generations from wild
• 1st cultivar release 2017
• Best seedlings, over 30% yield
increase
• Must validate seedling results in RVTs

27. Acknowledgments
• Grower co-operators and managers at the 11 progeny trial sites
• MIVIC project steering committee
• CSIRO conducted breeding until 2009
• Funding from HAL, AMS, QAAFI, DAFF, NSW DPI
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry