39 Avocado woeado americana) belongs to the family eo world production is more than 45 million tonnes, with about 25% of the crop trad ‘around the globe. Nearly half of the international trade is from Mexico. During the past decade, consumption wwocado has increased significantly throughout Jd. Mexico is the largest producer with a total ‘of about 1.5 million tonnes (28% of world Tn India, avocado is not a commercial fruit ‘only some non-descript seedling population fo are found growing in parts of Karnataka, ‘Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Sikkim India. It was introduced in India from Sri ‘early part of the twentieth century. The ‘are mainly grown in homesteads for gion. Farmers, only from Sikkim, are avocados in the ‘commercial status in the country. ‘most nutritive among fruits and is ; most important contribution of the diet. The pulp is rich in proteins is low in carbohydrates. Avocado ‘fruit owing to its very high The avocado oil is similar to and contains oleic acid, a mono- ‘may help lower cholesterol. n E, a high fiber content fiber. The fruit is a Chi Avocado is a sub-tropical to tropa, grown successfully from the tropics yg cn Tnttude of 95°. All3 horticultural acoso Guatemalan and Mexican have been pa "sting cultivars of West Indian race ae gent ia pockets in Maharashtra, Tamil Nad oy ey Depending on the race and varieties "4 mutes thrive and perform well n climatic corgi 48 en fom true tropical to warmer parts of "tg zone. In tropical and near-tropical ares "PEA West Indian race is well-adapted but ica” Guatemalan (eg, Booth selection) perfor 3 considered valuable for extending the ny’ In less tropical regions, hybrids of Gua Mexican race predominate since they com hardiness of the latter with the superior hones traits of both and also bridge the two tl maturity. In the eastern Himalayan state of st, avocado has been introduced successfully in hil with an altitude of 800 to 1600 m. Both the Meng: Gautemalan races are grown succesfly in Si In avocado-growing, areas of Sikkim, tmyor range from 12° to 30°C with an average annus] oo of 2,000 mm. The Mexican race is cultivated on mat altitude hills. It cannot tolerate the hot dry winds and northem India. Climatcally, itis grown cea or semi-tropical areas experiencing some rainfall in summer, and in humid, subtropical summer rain areas. Most cultivars are sensitive to water des, and to excess soil water caused by poor drainage The trees are very susceptible to root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamon in areas with poor sols et high watertables. Avocados can be grown on wide range of soils, but they are extremely sensitive to poor drainage and cannot withstand water-logging. They are intolerant to saline conditions. Optimum range of pHis from to7. Varieties There are over 1,000 varieties of cultivated avocades documented. The genus Persea has three major spei Pr. gwatemalensis ancl I drymifolin which to the horticultural races such as West Syatmalan and mexican, Their important fare given here olan a This raceisnativetothehighlands Cultivars belonging to B group Goreal America. Prt ae faith large, weighing up Bacon A gervakinned variety of ped quality gant bore on Hog stalks. The fruits ripen in Ovalshaped fats are having, media SSisinonts after owering. Their pericarp is thick to lage seed. Yellow green pulp with ight. Wen nip, 28 pet ae fen wary ts ses, he tightly inthe skin remains green, but darkens shih and fa sei Show ofthe frat aresmall The oilcontentranges yields to genle pressure, It is coldhaedy down w eee Sand 15% c Mencan race: Its most cold hardy of the avocado Brogden: The variety was recognized for it cod ‘more resistant to heat and low humidity. hardiness to-5°C and became commercially propagated ajerant to soil salinity: It is characterized by as nursery-stock for home growing, It is noted for its feats weighing 250 g ripening in 5 to 8 months dark purple skin at maturity. Fruits have thin smooth pericarp with Ettinger: Mature trees tolerate 4 hour at -6°C. The fitting loosely in the central cavity. Its oil fruit has a smooth, thin, green skin that does not peel fuptoa0% thelhighest ofall the three races easily. The flesh is very pale green. MTadian race: This group with medium-size Fuerte: This is the most popular variety of avocado. ito the low lands of Central India and It belongs to group B and is a hybrid of the Mexican pulp in lavour; and lower oil content and Guatemalan races grown in California. Fruits are “wo races. It is least hardy of the three _pyriform, weighting between 225 and 450 g with 18 to fend tolow humidity, but most tolerant to 26% oil. Itis fairly resistant to cold, better suited to sub- ies either rootstock or top. At the point of tropical than tropical climate and is grown successfully the pedicels have a unique nail head in the mid-altitude hills of Sikkim. “The fruit pericarp is smooth but leathery Monroe: It became a major commercial cultivar due “oll content of the fruit is low, ranging to its cold hardiness and production qualities. The fruit islarge, averaging over 800 g in weight, has an elliptical ‘of some important varieties belonging shape, and glossy green glossy skin. Hardy to 3°C. Sharwil: A medium-size fruit with rough green skin, it dosely resembles the Fuerte, but is slightly more oval in shape. The fruit has greenish-yellow flesh with a rich, nutty flavour and high oil content (20 to 24%) and a small seed. The skin is green when ripe. Itis a regular and moderate bearer with excellent quality fruit, but is sensitive to frost. Disease and pest resistance are superior to Fuerte. It is commercially grown in Hawaii and Australia. Zutano: It is a Mexican variety which is hardy to Jow temperature (-4°C). The large pear-shape fruit has rid variety originated in Florida. a shiny thin yellow-green skin that peels moderately “fruits weighing around easily. The pulp is pale green with fibers and hasa light ‘thick peel and well flavour. ‘The varieties that are cultivated in India go by several names, such as Purple, Green, Fuerte, Pollock, Peradeniya Purple Hybrid, Trapp, Round and Long. ‘Among the several existing varieties, perhaps Fuerte is the most widely grown, butt is regarded as unsuitable for the tropics. The Purple and Green varieties were introduced in India from Ceylon in 1941. The following varieties were introduced at the Fruit Research Station, Kallar Tamil Nadu: Long, Round, Fuerte, Pollock, Peradeniya Purple Hybrid, Shambaganur and Trapp. Improved commercial varieties such as Hass, Furete, Gwen, Bacon, Zutano, love, ranging between mercially grown in Plowida, 1 (150-250 g), oval-shape seeds. Skin turns from green ripe. The pulp has nutty rich content (19%). It has excellent -more suitable for sub-tropical‘Propagation ‘avocado iy propagated through seeds eetiy of seeds of avocado is quite SHOF Tae ial sen be improved by stoing the see > 1 of seed coat before Fe ete ee ee eo directly in the nursery or in When they attain 6-8 months of aBe, peB® ody for transplanting. Such seeding years produce 200 400 fruits. Vegetative by means of budding or grafting has Prete in establishment of selected varietal clones. ‘The best results in avocado clonal propagation have been achieved by double grafting, technique that ie expensive and time consuming. Cleft grafting in ‘and March was found most suitable for the vegetative propagation of avocado under humid jcaiconditionsofindia. Othermethods of vegetative | propagation of avocado include layering, inarching. and a ontstocks ploy significant role “in avocado production. Mexican rootstocks are the “most i ‘The most popular rootstock is ‘Dusa’, followed by ‘Duke 7 and ‘Bounty’. West Indian stocks : {in warmer regions or where salinity is a treesat 10-15 g; Avocado is planted ata distance of 6 to 12 ‘on the vigour and growth habit of the spacing is suggested for spreading type Fuerte. In Sikkim, a planting distance of on hills slopes (on half-moon terraces) is planting is done in June-July. Pits of 90 dug during February-March, and filled and top soil (1:1 ratio) before ‘of Karnataka, these are also Handbook of org 6 in April’May, and other fertilizers applied in yy March-April. Samples for leaf analysis qnntting collected in March-April and consist of tering) be flush leaves (5-6 months of age) from non-fruiy Pt non-flushing shoots. IMB and Irrigation: Avocado is shallow rooted ang extend up to 15 m. The majority of feeder oo found in the top 60 cm of soil and root extensig, Continue throughout the year. During flowott” the canopy surface area available for water Iga." considerably increased. In Mediterranean cling? peak rates of water use (in summer) appear to te, Pepveen and 5mm per day. For mature trees, thees coefficient (K,) is usually within the range 04-0. ™ pest estimate of water productivity is between 1 and > kg fruit/m’. Soil flooding and the resultant reduct in oxygen level can damage roots even inthe absence of root rot. Avocado is particularly sensitive to salinity, notably that caused by chloride ions. Both drip ay under-tree micro-sprinklers were successfully used to irrigate avocado trees. Mulching of young tres is a recommended water conservation measure and has other benefits. Sprinkler irrigation improves the fruit size and oil percentage besides advancing harvesting time. Irigation at intervals of 3 to 4 weeks during the dry months is beneficial to avocado. To avoid moisture stress during winter, mulching with dry grass/ leaves is desirable. Flooding is undesirable as it promotes root rot incidence. ‘Aftercare: Avocado branches frequently need propping to avoid breaking with the weight of the developing fruit. Some growers find it profitable to interplant bananas until the avocado trees reach bearing age. Branches exposed to sun by defoliation are extraordinarily susceptible to sunburn. Such branches should always be white washed. Pruning is rarely practiced except with upright varieties such as Pollock. Inspreading varieties like Fuerte, branches are thinned and shortened. Heavy pruning promotes excessive vegetative growth, consequently reducing the yield. Harvesting and post-harvest management “Avocado plants raised from seeds start bearing in5-6 years after planting. Mature fruits of purple varieties change their colour from purple to maroon, whereas fruits of green varieties become greenish-yellow. Fruit size is also considered as an index of maturity. Fruits are considered mature and ready for harvest only when the colour of seed coat within the fruit changes from yellowish white to dark brown. Avocados are mature before picking, but not ready to eat. They must be softened off the tree. The softening process takes from a few days to a week, depending upon the degree of maturity, storage temperature and variety. ‘Mature fruits ripen 6-10 days after harvesting. Oil percentaB*