Avocado Fact Sheet
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Family: Laurelaceae
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Genus: Persea
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Species: Americana
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Commercially important species:
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Mexican
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Guatemalan
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West Indian
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Related species: Americana
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Description: Upright Bushy Tree
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Origin: Mexico, Central and South America
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History of cultivation: First U.S. plantings in Florida 1833 in CA 1856
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Current production: California 95% and Florida 5%
Cultivation in California
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History: Traditionally from Mexico, South and Central America.
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Farmgate value: Dependent on seasonal supply
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Cultivars: Hass, Fuerte, Zutaro, Bacon, Susan
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Propagation: In containers; (CA) container grown tip grafts.
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Irrigation: Low volume applicator
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Training System: Pinch off terminal
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Nutrition: N, Zn and Fe
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Marketing: in the fall.
Production Problems
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Environmental: protect from wind and cold
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Insect/Pest: Aphids, armorlia moth and larvae, omnivorous looper, Diabotica beetles, deer, greenhouse trips, Persea mite, cadidids.
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Disease: of seed Phytophthora cinnamoni, sunblotch virus, avocado root rot.
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Yield: Alternate bearing
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Rootstocks: Tip grafts of Duke 7 and Toro Canyon
References
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Growing Avocados in the San Joaquin Valley. UC DANR Publications, Publication #904
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The California Avocado Industry, World Avocado Congress II. Orange, CA. UCR, 1991.
Prepared by Colin Courser, 1995