Mnuka Breeding and Genetics Bob Shula The Breeding

Mānuka Breeding and Genetics Bob Shula

The Breeding Triangle Breeding Plan Breeding operations Breeding plan Breeding strategy

Genetics and Improvement 1 Select ‘best’ trees in ‘good’ stands. Parents (seed orchard) 5 Make selections of parents and progeny Breeding Population 3 Progeny tests 4 Rank progeny Progeny (breeding) 2 Collect seed

Mānuka – potential limiting issues • Mānuka oil and honey industry is predominantly based on production from naturally existing mānuka stands. • Vast majority of these stands will naturally transition to kānuka or other species after about 25 years. • Total resource area and age distribution has not been quantified. Current supply may be at risk. • This creates a security of supply issue in terms of raw production which may negatively impact planned investment and expansion.

Proposed solution - mānuka plantations • Cost-effective establishment of mānuka plantations that target properties of interest (oil and/or honey) and provides a sustainable, long-term solution to security of supply issues. • Current challenges: - Lack of knowledge or development on superior types of mānuka for specific product end-uses - Lack of consistent, proven establishment methods - Planting economics: case study analysis to show that current costs for planting and management are able to provide a good return on investment or cashflow.

What to start doing? Applied research to de-risk three key areas: 1. Nursery practice: how to produce best quality mānuka seedlings and cuttings to limit out-plant mortality and increase early growth. 2. Establishment methodology: how to successfully establish mānuka on eroded or degraded land, and how to boost establishment for early production. 3. Breeding: first-generation superior plants that have higher production of the key traits of interest. Ø Base population - DNA fingerprinting