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Groundbreaking research unveils secret about California's avocados
SFGATE • • science
Key Points:
- Researchers at UC Berkeley have identified a single gene, SDMYB, responsible for the avocado tree's unique ability to switch flower sexes, solving a longstanding scientific mystery.
- Avocado trees have two flower types, A and B, which open as female and male at different times to prevent self-pollination, a trait that growers use by planting mixed types for effective pollination.
- The discovery allows breeders to determine a tree's flower type through DNA testing rather than waiting years for it to flower, accelerating breeding programs aimed at improving taste, size, fruit yield, and resilience.
- Understanding the gene and flowering behavior is expected to aid the avocado industry in adapting to climate change, as altered temperature cues affect flowering times and growing seasons.
- With California's avocado industry valued at around $500 million, this breakthrough offers immediate practical benefits for growers and breeders in the state.
