Pollen Parent Effect on Outcrossing Rate, Yield, and Fruit Characteristics of `Fuerte' Avocado

Abstract

The effects of various pollen parents on outcrossing rates, yield, and fruit and seed weights were studied in a `Fuerte' avocado (Persea americana Mill.). Isozyme analysis was used to identify the pollen parent of mature fruits. Cotyledons were assayed for five polymorphic enzyme systems: alcohol dehydrogenase, leucine aminopeptidase, malate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucomutase, and triosephosphate isomerase. When sampling of fruits was done to a height of 2 m, percent of hybrids produced by `Teague' and `Topa-Topa' pollenizers was in the range of 30% to 40%. With `Teague' as the pollenizer, `Fuerte' yield increased by 30% in trees adjacent to the pollenizer. With `Tops-Tops' as pollenizer, the yield was increased by 40% for trees adjacent to and at a distance from the pollenizer. `Ettinger' trees planted at a distance of 30 to 50 m from `Fuerte' were found to be the pollen parent of 2% to 14% of the progeny, thus supporting our previous conclusion regarding the high potency of `Ettinger' as a pollen parent. `Tops-Tops', `Teague', and `Ettinger' significantly increased fruit and seed weights of crossed compared with selfed `Fuerte' fruits.