Optimization of controlled pollination in avocado (persea americana Mill., Lauraceae)

Abstract

Avocado has a singular synchronous protogynous dichogamy breeding system that promotes outcrossing. In this work different steps have been optimized to improve controlled pollinations in avocado in order to perform basic studies of reproductive biology and directed crosses in breeding programs. The results show that, in order to achieve successful fruit set, male flowers should be collected when all the anthers have dehisced and the pollen transferred by direct contact of the anthers with the stigma during the female stage using preferentially determinate inflorescences and pollinating at least 11 flowers per inflorescence