The cultivars investigated fell into two groups, one based on Californian cultivars and the other on European varieties. Australian selections fell into both groups, indicating that some derived from Californian and others from European material. After the first three years of the project, a number of important outcomes have been achieved by the research team. Virus tested breeding progeny have been planted for first evaluation in 2000 for new cultivars. The status of the industry budwood source at Monash has been monitored and reported to industry to ensure that virus infected budwood is not distributed.
Heat therapy is underway on two virus infected varieties.
Micropropagation methods have been developed. Rootstocks of H184 have been generated for use in varietal test blocks to assess the performance of imported material. Successful cryopreservation has been achieved. Regeneration methods for transformation have been developed. Genetic fingerprints are available for the almond cultivars grown in Australia.