AVOCADO

Botanical name for avocado plant is Persea Americana. Avocado can grow in a variety of geographical locations but it is native to the Mesoamerican region. Avocado is an evergreen plant, and can grow in diverse environmental conditions. Avocado plant can grow any where from central highlands to the rain forests of northwest Columbia (Smith et al., 1992).

The avocado has various names. In the past it was called as alligator pear, midshipman's butter, vegetable butter, or sometimes as butter pear. Avocados may grow well in the mild-winter areas of California, Florida and Hawaii. Some sub varieties of could be seen in the northern parts of California and along the Gulf Coast.

An average avocado tree produces about 120 avocados annually. Commercial orchards produce an average of 7 tonnes per hectare each year, with some orchards achieving 20 tonnes per hectare (FAO statistics). Biennial bearing can be a problem, with heavy crops in one year being followed by poor yields the next. The fruit is sometimes called an avocado pear or alligator pear, from its shape and green skin. The avocado tree does not tolerate freezing temperatures, and so can be grown only in subtropical and tropical climates.

Avocados can be grown from seed, but the plants are usually propagated by grafting. They are set in the grove 20 to 40 feet apart depending upon whether the type of growth is spreading or upright. Sometimes they are set at 15 to 20 feet with the alternate plants removed after a few years. Older orchards with spreading trees may have as few as 40 trees per acre. Orchards with upright trees may have 150 trees per acre. About 90 trees per acre is average (Lee and Burns 1967). Fruit bearing begins at 3 to 6 years of age and may continue for 50 or more years.