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