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The quality of walnuts is influenced by the time between hull and kernel maturity; however, knowledge of this timing and factors which affect nut quality in Australia require further investigation. In this study, the timing of hull and kernel maturity occurred earlier in the warm climate of NSW than in cool climate Tasmania. Asynchrony in the timing of kernel and hull maturity in Lara and Vina was evident in both regions, but less so for Mna in Tasmania. Foliar application of ethephon significantly increased hull dehiscence in comparison to nontreatment with nearly all Chandler fruit hullable within 8 days of treatment with 432 g/ha of ethephon. Similarly, nearly all Lara fruit and 90%o of Serr fruit were hullabie, after 10 and 14 days respectively, with ethephon treatment at 756 g/ha. Ethephon was not considered to be detrimental to the health of trees with less than 5oh of leaves within tree canopies yellowing prematurely. Further research is required in Australia to improve this initial description of temporal development of fruit maturity and to confirm the efficacy of ethephon in a greater range of cultivars and environmental conditions.

Item Type:	Professional, Non Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Horticultural production
Research Field:	Horticultural crop growth and development
Objective Division:	Plant Production and Plant Primary Products
Objective Group:	Horticultural crops
Objective Field:	Tree nuts (excl. almonds and macadamias)
UTAS Author:	Lang, MD (Mr Michael Lang)
UTAS Author:	Evans, KJ (Professor Katherine Evans)
ID Code:	66100
Year Published:	2010
Deposited By:	Agricultural Science
Deposited On:	2010-12-22
Last Modified:	2014-10-09
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