Varieties and rootstocks

This investment runs a targeted breeding program to develop new almond varieties with improved production characteristics, while progressing the evaluation of varieties from earlier iterations of the program and from overseas breeding programs. The aim is to provide industry access to new varieties that are high-yielding, with self-fertility, improved disease tolerance, closed shells and desirable visual and eating qualities. This program builds on earlier investments Australian almond variety evaluation and commercialisation program (AL12015) and National almond breeding and evaluation program (AL17005).

This investment evaluates a range of potential new almond rootstocks and assesses their compatibility with the common almond cultivars grown in Australia and their performance under Australia's growing conditions. Improved understanding and knowledge of the performance of prunus rootstocks will drive grower profitability by informing decision-making processes. It will also reduce the risk of adopting new rootstock varieties by making rootstock performance data available under Australian government environments. This project builds on previous evaluation trials established at Lindsay Point and Loxton in South Australia under the Hort Innovation Almond Fund projects AL11012 and AL16006. This project continues the data collection and evaluation for the first two trial sites and establishes a third trial site in the Riverina, where soils are much heavier. The research team will measure key growth and production parameters for comparison against industry-standard Nemaguard.

Breeding and Evaluation Program has been funded by grower levy investments since 1997. The current ‘National almond breeding and evaluation program’ is funded through Hort Innovation with contributions from the Australian Research Council. The project is guided by the ABA Plant Improvement Committee with representation from growers, the ABA, Hort Innovation and project staff. The aim of the project is to develop varieties with improved qualities such as high yielding, self-fertility, closed shell protection from pests and disease and easy to manage tree structure while maintaining the look and taste of Nonpareil.