Powell’s # 1 Quandong was the most outstanding clone to come to light in almost 20 years of observation and selection.

The tree is a seedling tree grown from a cultivated tree by Brian & Faye Powell of Quorn, South Australia. It was, at the time, the culmination of a three-generation breeding and selection process to identify and develop a commercially viable cultivar. It was one of more than 300 fruiting trees planted in 1975 in their experimental seedling plantation. In all of the work done by CSIRO at Quorn with the Powells and in another experimental Orchard in Merbein it stood alone for quality.

Powell’s # 1, in 1991, was the first Quandong cultivar to be granted provisional protection under Plant Variety Rights Legislation.

Description

The tree: Vigorous and healthy with a pendulous habit.
The leaves: Large and luxuriant.
The fruit: Large when crops are moderate, medium sized when the tree is laden. In 1992 this tree was recorded to produce 10.5kg of dried fruit which, when sold as 1st grade fruit to the restaurant trade, returned $65.00 per kg.
Its Colour: Deep burgundy when ripe with outstanding flavour, a quality which it imparts to the processed product.
Its Shape: Round, with a short but distinct neck, thick with flesh as is the entire fruit.
The Stone: Small and loose in the fruit.
Flesh Texture: Very fine, and smooth on the palate, a quality which gives Powell’s # 1 good keeping qualities unlike many clones which begin to degrade within hours of harvest.
The Skin: Does not crack or peel even in a prolonged wet season.

A limited number of grafted trees were sold to the public in the mid-nineties and since they have come into production the fame of this outstanding tree has taken on an iconic status within the Quandong Industry.

In 2001 at a growers’ industry conference a blind tasting of jams made by the growers themselves was conducted. Jam made from Powell’s # 1 fruit was the winner!

This site was designed by: The Event Shop - Copyright© 2002 - Quorn Quandongs