Laurel wilt is a lethal disease of plants in the Lauraceae plant family, including avocado (Persea americana). This devastating disease has spread rapidly along the southeastern seaboard of the United States and has begun to affect commercial avocado production in Florida. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential to discriminate laurel wilt-affected avocado trees using aer...

The sandculture experiment with chloride as a variable has provided an excellent opportunity for detailed examination of the effects of excessive chloride on bearing avocado trees. Hass avocado trees have been under chloride treatment for the past four years. A summary of the more practical considerations of investigation such as leaf symptoms, mineral nutrition, growth and fruit characteristic...

In a study of the maturity of avocado fruits it is important to elucidate the lipid metabolism in the fruit during growth and storage, since the avocado stores a large amount of lipids in the edible pulp of the fruit. From morphological and physiological viewpoints of fruit development, Schroeder (10) observed that the avocado fruit deviated from, most investigated fruits in its method of devel...

In order to distinguish the interactions between low oxygen and fruit developmental stages, preclimacteric and ripening-initiated with propylene avocado fruit were exposed to different low oxygen levels and the steady-state levels of protein and mRNA accumulation of selected hypoxic and ripening genes were investigated. In addition, the patterns of translatable mRNA were studied by 2D IEF/SDSPA...

The consumption of diets enriched with monounsaturated fatty acids have been related to a lower rate of coronary heart disease, mainly due to their positive effects on serum lipids. The avocado is a fruit rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients, offering protection against coronary heart disease. This article will review the scientific evidence on avocados, and their impact on w...

Surveys for Stenoma catenifer Walsingham, the avocado seed moth, and its associated larval parasitoids were conducted in the Departments of Junín, Huánuco, Cusco, and Madre de Dios in Perú. Fruit infestation levels in some areas ranged from 0 to 58%, and parasitism of S. catenifer larvae in Junín and Huánuco was 23%. Five species of hymenopteran parasitoid in two families, Braconidae (Apanteles...

Many people have a favorite avocado, perhaps the one that grew in their backyard when they were growing up. What makes one person consider an avo­ cado “good” may be largely a matter of personal taste. But when horticulturists choose among seedlings and select one for plant propagators to increase and farmers to cultivate, many factors are involved. This publica­ tion is about the factors consi...

Hass avocados are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid) and antioxidants (carotenoids, tocopherols, polyphenols) and are often eaten as a slice in a sandwich containing hamburger or other meats. Hamburger meat forms lipid peroxides during cooking. After ingestion, the stomach functions as a bioreactor generating additional lipid peroxides and this process can be inhibited when antiox...

Following recent molecular studies on avocado thrips, a new species is described from Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia from the young leaves of avocado, Persea americana. Scirtothrips hansoni sp.n. is closely related to the Californian pest, S. perseae, and also to S. astrictus from Costa Rica that remains known from a single female. An illustrated key to these three species is provided.

Moth species trapped using the sex pheromone of Stenoma catenifer (LaSalle) as a lure, were registered at 2 commercial avocado orchards (one consisting of “Hass” and other of “Criollo”) and in wild “Criollo” avocado trees in southern Mexico. Traps were maintained for 1 mo in two seasons (dry and wet) on avocado trees under these 3 production conditions, changing the baits each season. Weekly ob...