Australian almond variety evaluation and commercialisation program (AL12015)

What was it all about?

Running between 2013 and 2018, this investment followed from the almond industry’s earlier breeding program to deliver new varieties with higher kernel yield and quality, self-fertility, improved disease tolerance, closed shells and desirable visual and eating qualities.

Activities of the evaluation and commercialisation program included…

• Final harvesting and evaluation at an initial evaluation site at Dareton in New South Wales, where progeny from more than 70 breeding populations had been planted
• Using these primary evaluations to select some 40 promising lines, which were then planted at three commercial trial sites across Australia’s almond-growing regions for further evaluation
• Ongoing evaluation and progression of selections, including through Plant Breeders Right trials and registrations.

The ongoing evaluation of selections from previous industry projects led to the commercialisation of six new varieties, which out-yielded the industry standard variety, Nonpareil. These new varieties are:

• Carina
• Capella
• Maxima
• Mira
• Rhea
• Vela

They are now registered with IP Australia (Plant Breeders Rights) and US Plant Patents have been issued.

The new commercial trials established under this program were ongoing at the time of this investment’s conclusion, to be continued through the subsequent Hort Innovation Almond Fund investment National almond breeding and evaluation program (AL17005).