AN EVALUATION OF HAZELNUT GENOTYPES IN AUSTRALIA

Five field experiments were established to evaluate 24 hazelnut genotypes. Planting commenced in 1995. The experiments are on-going. The genotypes include imported cultivars and Australian selections. Two of the field sites are in New South Wales (Orange and Moss Vale), two in Victoria (Toolangi and Myrtleford) and one in Tasmania (Kettering). The following data was gathered: average dates of commencement; duration of pollen shed; female bloom; and dates of leafing out. Tree butt circumferences were measured annually to assess tree growth. Nut yields were obtained from 2000 onwards. Differences in tree growth and nut yields were found between sites and genotypes. In general, the trees at the Myrtleford site grew best and provided the highest yields, with some genotypes producing 6 kg/tree in their seventh year after planting. The genotypes ‘Barcelona’ ‘Tonda di Giffoni’ and ‘Tokolyi/ Brownfield Cosford’ (TBC, an Australian selection), were the highest yielding across all sites. Good yields were also obtained at some sites for ‘Ennis’, ‘Butler’, ‘Segorbe’ and ‘Tonollo’, the latter being another Australian selection.