Avocado research programme
Replicated trials with controls, repeat observations and multi-year monitoring. Each parameter has a defined method, unit and schedule.
- Plant performanceSurvival, height, trunk diameter, canopy, shoot flushes, flowering type.
Survival and mortality, height, trunk diameter, canopy width and height, shoot growth flushes, leaf symptoms, flowering behaviour, flowering type (A/B) and phenological stages.
- Climate adaptabilityHeat, cold, frost and water stress, linked to recorded conditions.
Heat tolerance and injury, cold and frost response, water-stress symptoms and recovery, humidity response and extreme-weather events, each linked to recorded temperature, humidity and irrigation where available.
- Soil and water responseTexture, pH, EC, drainage, irrigation and water-use efficiency.
Soil texture, pH, EC and salinity, drainage and waterlogging response, irrigation water quality, frequency and volume, and water-use efficiency. Site baseline is kept separate from periodic readings.
- Rootstock performanceVigour, graft union, disease, salinity and drought tolerance.
Rootstock vigour, graft compatibility and union condition, disease incidence, salinity, drought and heat response, nutrient uptake and yield efficiency. One cultivar can be compared across rootstocks.
- Production performanceFruit set, yield per tree and hectare, alternate bearing.
Fruit set, yield per tree and per hectare, alternate bearing, time to first commercial fruit and suitability for high-density planting.
- Fruit qualityWeight, size, dry matter, oil content, sensory evaluation.
Average fruit weight, size distribution, shape, skin characteristics, flesh percentage, seed size, dry matter, oil content, sensory evaluation and maturity period, with lab results and sample IDs. Fruit, pedicel, ripe fruit and seed descriptors follow the UPOV avocado test guidelines.
- Post-harvest performanceShelf life, storage, transport tolerance, market suitability.
Harvest maturity, shelf life, storage behaviour, transport tolerance and damage, and market suitability, with storage temperature, humidity, ripening time and weight loss.