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Novel propagation and conservation technologies for Australian macadamia (2021–2025)

Abstract:
Australias $850M macadamia industry is a booming contributor to regional growth with a strong domestic market niche. However the industry is threatened by a severe plant supply bottleneck. Also wild germplasm for breeding is threatened with extinction. This project aims to innovate world-first tissue culture technologies for macadamia propagation and secure cryo-storage of germplasm, aided by cutting edge genomics. Expected outcomes of these new, cross-disciplinary techniques are on-demand supply of superior trees to growers and the protection of invaluable germplasm. This should provide significant benefits for industry growth, food security and conservation de-risked from global change.
Grant type:
ARC Linkage Projects
Researchers:

  • Professor Neena Mitter

    Centre Director, Horticultural Sci
    Centre for Horticultural Science
    Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation

  • Professor Robert Henry

    Prof of Innovation in Agriculture
    Centre for Crop Science
    Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation

  • Professor Bruce Topp

    Professorial Research Fellow
    Centre for Horticultural Science
    Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation

  • Dr Alice Hayward

    Senior Research Fellow
    Centre for Horticultural Science
    Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation
Funded by:
Australian Research Council