RESEARCH & EVENTS
From genes to orchards
Decoding the genetics of priority almond traits
By Lucky Paudel and Chris Cazzonelli
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AUSTRALIA ' S almond industry is stepping into a new era of innovation, funded by the Hort Innovation Frontiers research program that aims to empower state-of-art science with great ideas to build talented capacity, improve breeder efficiency, crop productivity, and grow industry profitability. A new five-year program- Genetics for Next Generation Orchards AS23003( 2024-2029) now led by Prof. Peter Prentis( Queensland University of Technology) builds upon our previous engagement in the National Tree Genomics Program AS17000( 2019-2024) to unravel the genetics of priority traits underpinning breeder selection and profitability for almond, citrus, mango, macadamia, and apple industries. The almond breeding program led by Associate Professor Cassandra Collins and previously by Dr Michelle Wirthensohn( University of Adelaide) have teamed up with Associate Professor Chris Cazzonelli( Western Sydney University) and Professor Rajeev Varshney( Murdoch University) to fast-forward almond breeding. Our team intends to unravel fundamental genomic knowledge of complex priority traits and the underlying target genes controlling flowering, nut quality, and yield that collectively increase breeding value, and grower profitability. This first-of-the-kind interdisciplinary collaboration strengthens national research partnerships to accelerate sustainable and climate-resilient orchards. Dr Lucky Paudel drives the almond research program at Western, focusing on the timing of flowering and floral bud dormancy as these traits underpin pollination success, nut quality, and yield stability. On our recent visit to the Loxton Almond Centre of Excellence experimental and demonstration orchard, we observed an early flowering cultivar with low chilling requirement already in bloom. By comparing the genetic variation in this
In A Nutshell- Spring 2025 Vol 26 Issue 3
Early flowering cultivar at Almond centre of Excellence, Loxton SA
cultivar with other Australian earlyand late-flowering cultivars, we aim to identify the genetic regions and mechanisms that regulate flowering and dormancy. This knowledge will help develop new varieties adapted to local climatic conditions and enable the expansion of almond production into new growing regions. In parallel, we plan to collaborate with the University of Adelaide, which currently leads research on nut quality traits such as tight shell seal, kernel appearance, and size, to better understand the underlying genetic mechanisms. Enhancing self-compatibility is also a high priority for almond breeding, and we plan to address this in future research. To achieve project goals, we are deploying cutting-edge synthetic biology tools to better understand the function of genes, their complex interactions, and how DNA packaging controls genes underpinning these traits. Almond tissue culture for callus and shoot regeneration systems as well as making use of non-pathogenic plant viruses to study gene function will help us learn about genes that regulate flowering, self-compatibility, nut quality and yield. Our shared goal is to generate knowledge, develop
A non-pathogenic virus-based tool developed to study gene functions in almond. As a proof-of-concept, a gene required for green pigment development was turned down, resulting in bleaching of leaves in infected plants( right), while leaves of non-infected plants remained green( left).
biotechnological tools and genetic markers for accelerating almond breeding, and support growers in building next-generation orchard systems for greater efficiency and profitability. Over the past 25 years, the Australian almond breeding program has developed and evaluated more than 55,000 trees and successfully released six cultivars-a remarkable achievement built on decades of research. Australia has only recently begun using biotechnological tools in breeding as global research moving ahead rapidly. Australian research must accelerate, not only to match global progress, but also to develop varieties tailored to the current and future needs of local growers and the Australian almond industry. This project aims to close that gap by providing new tools and genomic knowledge to fast-track the almond breeding program and reduce the time needed to deliver improved varieties. This will allow growers and industry partners to“ hedge your bets” and future-proof almond farming with better tools, better trees, and better outcomes.