Fruit Set in Avocado: Pollen Limitation, Pollen Load Size, and Selective Fruit Abortion

Avocado is a woody perennial fruit crop originating in Central America and Mexico domesticated cultivated the Americas since pre-Columbian times, currently subtropical, tropical, Mediterranean climates worldwide, with increasing importance international trade. shows an exuberant flower production that, however, results very low set reflected massive abscission of flowers fruitlets. Several factors are involved this behavior, and, work, we have focused on pollination limitation. The obtained show that pollen deposition takes place at female male stages during avocado flowering season percentage stigma varies along season, probably due to changes temperature affect not only floral behavior but also pollinator activity. However, no embryo or endosperm development took when occurred phase. Thus, number grains landing stigmas stage observed under natural conditions might be enough ensure good yield. excess subsequent drop most provides opportunity selective fruitlet depending genotype fruits derived from outcrossing showed higher chances reaching maturity. Moreover, important competition for resources occurs among developing new vegetative growth, conferring time fertilization effective set.