RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VEGETATIVE FLUSHING AND FLOWERING OF MACADAMIA-INTEGRIFOLIA IN HAWAII

Flowering patterns of the macadamia cultivars, 'Kau' (HAES 344), 'Keaa u' (HAES 660), and 'Kakea' (HAES 508) were studied over three consecut ive seasons at an orchard near Hilo, HI (elevation 27.4 m). These stud ies showed that all cultivars had broad flowering peaks with maximum a nthesis occurring between January and April. The frequency of vegetati ve flushing was monitored during 1988, and raceme production by the fl ushes was observed during the subsequent flowering seasons (1988-1989, 1989-1990, 1990-1998, 1991-1992). Vegetative flushing occurred throug hout the year for all cultivars but was more prominent during fall whi ch coincided with the period of nut maturation. Sporadic flowering was observed within 1 year after vegetative flush emergence. For all cult ivars, flowering of the 1988 flushes increased in 1989-1990, was most abundant in 1990-1991, and decreased in the 1991-1992 flowering season . Most racemes produced during 1989-1992 developed on flushes that wer e produced in the spring and fall of 1988.