A model of vegetative flush development and its potential use managing macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) tree canopies
J. D. Wilkie A B C , M. Sedgley A and T. Olesen BA Faculty of Arts and Sciences, The University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Centre for Tropical Horticulture, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Alstonville, NSW 2477, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: jdwilkie@hotmail.com
Crop and Pasture Science 60(5) 420-426 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP08337
Submitted: 7 October 2008 Accepted: 20 February 2009 Published: 14 May 2009
Abstract
We examined the relationship between shoot growth and temperature and solar radiation in macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia Maiden and Betche, M. integrifolia × tetraphylla Johnson) as an aid to developing pruning strategies for this crop. Trees growing at Alstonville (28.9°S) in northern NSW, Australia, were pruned at various times to promote vegetative flushing under a range of environmental conditions.
Flush development in macadamia is cyclic: bud release and stem elongation followed by a period of dormancy, before bud release of the subsequent flush. The rate of bud release after pruning was best correlated with the product of the mean temperature and solar radiation (r2 = 0.75, P < 0.0001), whereas the rate of flush development was best correlated with the mean temperature (r2 = 0.76, P < 0.0001). The number of buds released per pruned stem was greater under higher temperatures and solar radiation (r2 = 0.37, P < 0.001), but the length of the flush after pruning decreased with increasing temperatures (r2 = 0.32, P < 0.01).
The descriptive models were combined with long-term weather data to predict the duration and characteristics of flushes following pruning at various times of the year along Australia’s eastern seaboard, from Mareeba (17.0°S) to Coffs Harbour (30.3°S). Flush duration and stem length following June pruning were predicted to be greater than following early autumn or September pruning and to vary from year to year, and with location (latitude). We discuss the implications of the model predictions for productivity and propose pruning times intended to optimise flowering and yield. Further research is required to test these proposed pruning strategies.
Additional keywords: recurrent flushing, flowering, hedging, re-growth.
Acknowledgments
The work was funded by The Primary Industries Innovation Centre, a joint venture between the University of New England and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, The Australian Macadamia Society, and Horticulture Australia Limited. We thank David Robertson and Steven Muldoon for technical support, and Lisa McFadyen for reading the manuscript.
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