Reproductive biology of Melaleuca alternifolia

Melaleuca alternifolia is grown commercially for the production of foliar oil. Understanding reproductive biology of its species is essential for conducting the improvement strategy. This employing specific information both flowering and fruiting phenology, floral development characteristics, pollen vectors and pollen dispersal, the sexual system and inter- specific hybridization. Flowering occurs during the months of October to November. Investigation of self- incompatibility showed no capsules were produced from controlled self-pollination. A preliminary investigation of hybridisation between M alternifolia, and the closely related M linariifolia, and M. dissitiflora revealed both possibilities for and constraints to hybridisation as a breeding strategy for tea tree oil production. M. alternifolia flowers are visited by a variety of both large and small insects. Thrips imaginis and Thrips tabacci were identified as frequent floral visitors, and are the most likely pollinators of M. alternifolia. The results of this study are informative for M. alternifolia breeders, floral biologist, lecturers and students.