New report exploring mistletoe in macadamia orchards released

In the weeks before Christmas, most of the country’s idea of mistletoe was as a symbol of yuletide joy (and perhaps even a little romance!) – but not for Professor Dave Watson, enlisted by Hort Innovation to explore the impact of the parasite upon Australian macadamia crops. With many growers reporting an increased presence of mistletoe, it was considered important to ascertain a clear picture across impacted regions of exactly what the problem is, and what can be currently done to manage it, as an effective foundation for further research in the area.

The work included a reconnaissance trip to the Bundaberg region in late December, where a number of growers met with Professor Watson for a mutually informative on-farm workshop.

This small Hort Innovation project cost little, but produced big value results. The final report, now available, contains great insights into managing the parasite, as well as recommendations for further research. Read the finished report here.

Meet Professor Watson and learn more about Mistletoe in this video filmed during his Bundaberg visit:

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