Interactions between the vegetative growth, flowering and yield of macadamia ('Macadamia integrifolia', 'M. integrifolia' x 'M. tetraphylla'), in a canopy management context

Abstract

Macadamia ('Macadamia integrifolia', 'M. tetraphylla', and hybrids) is an evergreen, subtropical, recurrent flushing tree that is native to subtropical eastern Australia. Macadamia is induced to flower by cool temperatures, but cool temperatures do not ensure flowering because there are important interactions with vegetative growth. Interactions between the vegetative growth, flowering and yield of macadamia were investigated with the aim of developing canopy management strategies. Characteristics of the stems were found to affect the likelihood of flowering, with short stems being more likely to flower than long stems. The stem age most likely to flower, 1- or 2-year-old, depended on cultivar. Overall this indicated that floral behaviour of a stem was influenced by its physiological position within the canopy.