A recent report highlighted an international collaboration between the University of California, Riverside and Spain-based Eurosemillas that is advancing avocado breeding through research and grower education: www.greenmotionavocados.com . This avocado rootstock research will improve orchard performance, greater water efficiency, salt tolerance and disease resistance.
The collaboration recently hosted its second seminar in Trujillo, Peru, bringing together approximately 60 growers, nursery professionals and industry representatives from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
The meeting included presentations, technical discussions, and orchard visits focused on Hass-like avocado varieties and rootstock selections currently available only to members of the platform. Five rootstocks are under evaluation, with two expected to become commercially available in the near future. The breeding program aims to expand growing areas, extend the harvest window, support more intensive production systems, and reduce water use. Researchers say the collaboration is focused on developing avocado trees that can better meet the needs of growers while improving long-term orchard sustainability.
One of the primary goals of the breeding program is to identify rootstocks that improve productivity under a wider range of growing conditions. Researchers are working to develop rootstocks that can extend harvest windows, support more intensive production systems and reduce water use without sacrificing fruit quality. Those improvements could become increasingly valuable as growers adapt to changing environmental conditions and rising production costs. The program also focuses on developing trees that perform well in modern, high-density orchard systems.
In addition to improving productivity, the breeding effort is aimed at addressing several long-term challenges facing avocado growers. Researchers are working to develop rootstocks that can extend harvest windows, support more intensive production systems and reduce water use without sacrificing fruit quality. Those improvements could become increasingly valuable as growers adapt to changing environmental conditions and rising production costs.
As additional rootstocks move closer to commercial release, growers will have more options for selecting trees that fit their production goals and local growing conditions.