Screening and Evaluation of New Rootstocks with Resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi
Ultimately, the control of Phytophthora root rot (PRR) of avocado will be accomplished with resistant rootstocks. Our goal is to find rootstocks that will eliminate Phytophthora cinnamomi as a serious pathogen on avocado. Our ability to find such rootstocks has been enhanced as a result of our breeding blocks where we focus on crossing already resistant rootstocks. Our objectives over the life of this project have been to collect, select, breed and develop avocado germplasm that exhibits resistance to Phytophthora root rot of avocado.
Linking Candidate Genes to Biochemical Phenotypes in Avocado
This 3-year project, funded jointly by the UC Discovery Program and the CAC, is approaching the end of its final year. It was designed to identify genetic markers that track the nutritional composition of avocado fruit (“nutritional phenotypes”) for implementation via marker-assisted selection. The discovery of candidate genes and development of SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) markers is complete, though additional markers are expected from
Implementing Market Assisted Selection for Biochemical Phenotypes in Avocado
Traditional breeding approaches are used for the development of new avocado cultivars. In these approaches, fruit/seed are selected from cultivars with favorable
Impact of Temperature on Avocado Floral Behavior Pollen Tube Growth
The original objective was to determine the impact of temperature on floral behavior and pollen tube growth and humidity on the proportions of self-, close, and cross-pollinated avocado fruit on trees growing in humid, coastal and dry, inland CA climates. Because self-pollination was demonstrated to be the prevailing mode of pollination in Florida cultivars in warm humid conditions, it was appropriate to determine if similar rates of self-pollination occur in a dry Mediterranean climate present in California.
Enhancement of Avocado Productivity. Plant improvement - selection and evaluation of improved varieties and rootstocks
The goal of the avocado scion breeding program is to help maintain and enhance the California avocado industry by introducing consistently heavier producing, high-quality avocado varieties, better pollinizer varieties, and to test improved rootstock hybrids. This is achieved through identification of material which is less prone to alternate bearing and more tolerant to adverse environmental conditions. Additionally identifying varieties with a more upright tree structure will assist in high density tree management schemes.
Avocado Breeding Review
Since 2010 there has been an on-going process of critical review and change to production research funded by the California Avocado Commission (CAC). A number of changes to the system and process of production research have occurred that has set strategic goals and addressed weaknesses in the system. The most notable changes have been to improve the accountability of the research contracts and to place the research efforts in a multi-year context with well-defined objectives and milestones to be met as the research projects are conducted.
