The Effect of Orchard Design on Almond Fruit Set

Oct./Dec. 1994 4(4) populations (at least once every 5 years). 2) Focus surveys on cultivars shown to be promising sources of taxol and taxanes. 3) Continue to sample clippings yields annually for plants more than 3 years old. 4) Study the potential for harvesting other plant organs and whole plants for taxol along with clippings. Questions to be answered include: a) What would be the optimum plant age to harvest?; b) At what time of year should harvesting be done?; c) should plants be dried, after which needles only are stored and marketed?; d) how can agronomic practices be adjusted (row spacing, fertilization, irrigation, choice of climate, etc.) to maximize taxol/ taxane yields per acre?; e) how does the dedicated “whole-plant-for-taxol” system compare economically to harvesting clippings and cull plants as byproducts of traditional production and marketing of ornamental yews?