Pollination services in a macadamia cultivar depend on across‐orchard transport of cross pollen

Pollination services are critical in entomophilous crops. Relationships between pollinator visits and fruit set mass complex optimal strategies to improve pollination poorly defined. We often do not understand what proportions of the crop result from self- or cross-pollination, how cross-pollination affects quality far cross-pollen is transported. quantified cross-paternity nuts partially self-incompatible macadamia cultivar 816 at increasing distances sources. estimated distance effective pollen movement, evaluated by different parents affected nut size nutritional quality, assessed whether a source determined cross-pollinated nuts, number harvested. Almost all resulted even 184 m (23 rows) source. The cultivars closest proximity were usually parents. Cross-pollination increased altered kernel quality. harvested decreased with one orchard. Nut was generally Synthesis applications. Macadamia production almost entirely cross-pollination. Crop dependent on across-orchard transport cross pollen, sometimes over least m. This shows importance genotype, just quantity, ensuring an service. 24 source, suggesting that should be inter-planted more closely orchards. need better behaviour, including genotype flower visitors carry, direction they across orchards, optimise yield