High outcrossing levels among global macadamia cultivars: implications for nut quality, orchard designs and pollinator management

Record summary

Researchers genetically assigned pollen parentage to nuts from 19 macadamia cultivars at 23 sites in Australia, Brazil and South Africa. Cross-pollination accounted for 80–100% of sampled fruit at 17 sites; other sites showed substantial variation. Cross-pollinated nuts often had better measured quality than self-pollinated nuts. The results support considering cultivar arrangement and pollinator distribution, but do not establish one hive density, planting layout or guaranteed yield gain for every orchard.