Strategies for Increasing

Avocado Fruit Size

Carol Lovatt
Department of Botany & Plant Sciences
University of California - Riverside
www.plantbiology.ucr.edu
carol.lovatt@ucr.edu
 The Goal of Avocado Growers
Is to produce the greatest number of commercially
valuable size fruit at the lowest cost to maximize
net profit.
Causes of small fruit
• genetics
• competition
• climate
• stress
Strategies for increasing fruit size include:
1) Optimizing tree health, nutrition & water status,
2) Using plant growth regulators (PGRs) to
stimulate fruit growth,
3) Removing fruit by hand, pruning or with PGRs.
Strategies for Increasing ‘Hass’
Avocado Fruit Size
• Use of properly timed foliar- or soil-applied
fertilizers to obtain a plant growth regulator
effect that increases fruit size
– principles for use of foliar vs. soil fertilization
– examples of successful fertilizer treatments
• Use of PGRs – what they are, what they can do,
which ones to use and why
– principles for maximum PGR efficacy
– examples of successful PGR treatments
Optimizing Tree Nutrient Status

Essential Nutrients
Carbon Oxygen Hydrogen
Potential ‘Hass’ yield
Nitrogen Zinc
Phosphorus Manganese California average yield
Potassium Iron
Calcium Copper
Magnesium Boron
Sulfur Chloride
Molybdenum
Nickel
 Soil Fertilization - Benefits

Essential Nutrients Soil fertilization

Nitrogen Zinc is an inexpensive
Phosphorus Manganese strategy for providing
Potassium Iron essential mineral
Calcium Copper nutrients to the tree.
Magnesium Boron Correct soil problems:
Sulfur Chloride soil structure, salinity, pH,
Molybdenum water-holding capacity,
Nickel pathogen-suppressive
rhizosphere,unplug
irrigation emitters.
Soil Fertilization - Problems

Many factors affect

the uptake nutrients With so many
from the soil: factors influencing soil
Soil moisture nutrient uptake,
Transpiration it is difficult to know when soil-
Nutrient solubility applied fertilizers are taken up
Soil temperature or how much is taken up over a
Root activity given period of time versus
Soil pH how much has leached
Soil microflora past the root zone.
Salinity
Crop load
Foliar Fertilization - Benefits

Foliar fertilization
is a rapid and efficient
strategy for providing an Leaves house the
essential mineral nutrient tree’s photosynthetic
directly to the leaves to and basal metabolic
overcome the soil’s inability machinery.
to release nutrients to the roots
or the root’s inability to
take up nutrients.
 Optimizing Tree Nutrient Status

Classic use of
foliar fertilizers is for
rapid correction of Potential ‘Hass’ yield
nutrient deficiencies:
California average yield
1) Symptoms are visible;
2) Tissue analysis indicates
a nutrient concentration
that is low or deficient;
3) Soil analysis reveals a
problem that affects
nutrient availability.
 Goal of Foliar Fertilization

• Is to obtain an economic advantage

• by identifying the role essential nutrients play
in the physiology of the avocado tree
• applying a nutrient as a foliar fertilizer at a
key stage in the phenology of the tree to
stimulate a specific metabolic process
that will increase yield, fruit size or quality
• foliar-applied fertilizer results in an increase
in grower income even when the tree is NOT
deficient by standard tissue analysis
 Goal of Foliar Fertilization

• Is to target periods of high nutrient demand,

• especially periods of high nutrient demand
that occur when soil conditions compromise
nutrient uptake by the roots.
• The goal is to obtain a plant growth regulator
effect from a foliar-applied fertilizer that
increases fruit set, fruit size or fruit quality.
• Foliar fertilizer applications must be properly
timed!!
Phenology of ‘Hass’ Avocado
Tree in California

Periods of high nutrient demand

 Examples of properly timed
foliar-applied fertilizers
that increase ‘Hass’ avocado
yield and fruit size
Canopy-applied Boron or Urea
Boron (1.6 kg B/ha) or Urea (25-28 kg N/ha)
at the cauliflower stage of inflorescence
development (CSID)
CSID
 Pollen tubes (no.) Viable
Treatment penetrating the ovule ovules (%)
Control 0.77 cz 70 b
Boron 2.29 a 81 a
Urea 1.48 b 88 a
Boron + urea 2.10 a 78 a
z
Means within a column followed by different letters are significantly
different by Tukey’s HSD at P  0.05.
Canopy-applied Boron or Urea

CSID

Boron = net increase of 12.2 tons/ha/3 yrs

and Urea = 11.0 tons/ha/3 yrs in total yield,
with > 60% CVS fruit (178-325 g/fruit)
 Boron combined with urea resulted in
multiple carpels per flower.

In Mexico, B+N reduced

yield an average of 3 metric
tons/ha.
No significant effect on yield
in California.
Boron applied to the canopy of ‘Hass’
avocado trees during Stage I of fruit
development increased total yield or yield
of large fruit.
Total <135-169 170->266
Treatment yield (g/fruit) (g/fruit)
-------------------- kg/tree --------------------
Control 185.0 bz 179.0 a 6.0 c
Boron 4 g/tree Mar + Apr 210.0 a 187.0 a 23.0 b
Boron 8 g/tree Mar 195.0 ab 74.0 b 121.0 a

Z Means within a column followed by different letters are significantly different by

Duncan’s multiple range test at P  0.05. Cossio-Vargas et al. III Congreso Latin-
americano del Aguacate. Columbia. 11-13 Nov. 2009. Memorias pp. 4-17.
Canopy-applied potassium phosphate
and potassium phosphite
Potassium phosphate (1.8 kg/ha)
Potassium phosphite (1.8 kg/ha)
Control - Soil-applied potassium phosphate
(25 kg/ha)
CSID
Only potassium phosphite applied to the
canopy of ‘Hass’ avocado trees at the
cauliflower stage of inflorescence
development increased fruit size; with no
reduction in total yield.
3-year cumulative yield of commercially
valuable size fruit (178-325 g/fruit)
Treatment kg/tree tons/ha tons/ha
Control 100 bz 27 b —
Phosphate 98 b 26 b —
Phosphitey 116 a 32 a 4.6
P-value 0.0093 0.0093
z Means within a column followed by different letters are significantly different by
Fisher’s Protected LSD.
y Nutri-Phite (potassium phosphite, 0-28-26)
Nutri-Phite (potassium phosphite, 0-28-26,
1.2-1.6 L/ha) applied to ‘Hass’ avocado trees
at the beginning of Stage I (early May/Nov)
and during Stage II (June/Dec) of fruit
development increased yield and fruit size.

Total <135-169 170->266

Treatment yield (g/fruit) (g/fruit)
------------------------------ kg/tree -----------------------------
Control 113.4 bz 46.3 a 67.1 b
Nutri-Phite 160.6 a 31.8 b 128.8 a
Z Means within a column followed by different letters are significantly different by
t-test at P  0.05. Data from Samuel Salazar-Garcia, Nayarit, Mexico.
 Examples of properly timed
soil-applied fertilizers
that increase ‘Hass’ avocado
yield and fruit size
Properly timed soil-applied fertilizer
increases yield and fruit size
Since fruit number drives soil uptake of many
essential nutrients, matching fertilizer rates and
application times
• to periods of high nutrient demand by fruit
• to periods of strong canopy growth (floral
and vegetative) and root activity
makes sense for
• optimizing tree nutrient status
• increasing fertilizer-use efficiency
• improving the benefit to cost of fertilization
• protecting the environment.
 Matching fertilizer application
times and rates to tree demand

2 x N in April/Oct or Nov/May – resulted in a net

increase in CVS fruit (178-325 g/fruit) of > 19
tons/272 trees/ha/4 yrs and reduced alternate
bearing.
 Matching fertilizer application
times and rates to tree demand

Supplying N or N-P-K in July+Aug/Jan+Feb –

resulted in a net increase in CVS fruit (178-325
g/fruit) > 7.4 tons/272 trees/ha/3 yrs compared
trees receiving the same amount of N or N-P-K in
multiple applications Mar-Nov/Sept-May.
 $
Matching foliar-applied fertilizers to key
stages of avocado tree phenology or soil-
$
applied fertilizers to stages of phenology
with high nutrient demand significantly
$ increases yield of commercially valuable
$
large size fruit.

$ $
 Plant Growth Regulators
PGRs are the most powerful tools available for
increasing or decreasing vegetative and reproductive
growth and development, including:
– shoot and root growth,
– flowering,
– fruit set,
– fruit development (size),
– postharvest fruit quality.

PGRs are natural or synthesized chemicals that

mimic the actions of one of the five classic plant
hormones, inhibit the synthesis or action of
natural plant hormones, or have unique effects.
 Plant Growth Regulators

The FIVE Classic Plant Hormones

1) Auxins – indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)
2) Gibberellins (GA) – GA1 (>120 GAs)
3) Cytokinins (CK) – isopentenyladenine,
zeatin, dihydrozeatin (+riboside)
4) Abscisic acid (ABA)
5) Ethylene
 Plant Growth Regulators

The FIVE Classic Plant Hormones

1) Auxins – indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)
2) Gibberellins (GA) – GA1 (>120 GAs)
3) Cytokinins (CK) – isopentenyladenine,
zeatin, dihydrozeatin (+riboside)
4) Abscisic acid (ABA)
5) Ethylene
Maximizing the Efficacy of PGRs
• Cultural practices – Avocado trees must be well
irrigated, properly fertilized, and in good health
• Application time – physiology and developmental
stage of the target organ determines the outcome
Knowledge of crop phenology is critical !!

• Application time – fruit residue levels at harvest

PGR applications must be properly timed !!
Maximizing the Efficacy of PGRs
• Coverage, solubility and solution pH: all affect
PGR uptake and thus, the response

Lipophillic
pH 5.0-5.5 Water- Hydrophillic pathway
filled regions
improves channels
uptake Cuticle

Cell wall
Cell interior
• Temperature: cool in summer; warm in winter;
higher relative humidity is best.
• Wetting agent: Follow instructions on the label !!
Maximizing the Efficacy of PGRs
• Concentration vs. amount: more is NOT better,
less won’t work - Follow label instructions !!

Different tissues have

different sensitivities to
PGR concentrations

Do not let your PGR sprays drift onto other crops !!

Hormone Regulation of Fruit Size
Fruit development
Early fruit Exponential fruit growth Fruit maturation
development (cell division + cell expansion (ripening)

anthesis high IAA export

for sink strength

IAA ABA

high GA for growth

GA Ethylene

high cytokinin for sink strength

Cytokinins
Hormone Regulation of Fruit Size
Fruit development
Early fruit Exponential fruit growth Fruit maturation
development (cell division + cell expansion (ripening)

anthesis high IAA export low ABA for

for sink strength fruit growth

IAA ABA

high GA for growth

GA Ethylene

high cytokinin for sink strength low ethylene

Cytokinins for fruit retention
 Examples of PGR treatments that
increase fruit size
• In all examples, increases in fruit set and total
yield and fruit size and yield of commercially
valuable large size fruit are statistically
significant as both kg and number of fruit/tree.
• For PGRs to have a significant effect on total
yield or yield of large size fruit, trees must have
a minimal yield potential of > 15 kg/tree (4 tons/
272 trees/ha).
• In all examples, PGR effects on yield and fruit
size are significant averaged across on-crop (>
15 kg/tree) and off-crop (< 15 kg/tree) years and
as 2-year cumulative yield.
 Foliar-applied Gibberellic Acid
GA3 (25 mg/L; 2,337 L/ha) at the cauliflower stage
of inflorescence development (CSID) to increase
total yield and yield of CVS fruit (178-325 g/fruit)

CSID

Net increase in yield of 6.8 tons/272 trees/ha/2 yrs

and CVS fruit (178-325 g/fruit) of 2.2 tons/ha/2 yrs
GA3 applied at the cauliflower stage of
inflorescence development

• Average increases in total yield were > 50%

with average increases in CVS fruit > 60%.
• GA stimulates shoot and leaf development, so
leaves are sources not competing sinks and
the leaves protect the fruit from sunburn.
• For mature fruit, GA increases fruit size,
reduces fruit drop, and delays fruit blackening
with no effect on days to ripen or fruit quality.
 Foliar-applied Gibberellic Acid
GA3 (25 mg/L; 2,337 L/ha) prior to exponential
fruit growth to increase yield of CVS fruit (178-
325 g/fruit), without reducing total yield
100

90

80

70

Fruit Dry Wt (g/fruit)

60

50

40

Prior to exponential fruit growth 30

20

Phase transition 10

X
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

Net increase in total yield 7.4 tons/272 trees/ha/2 yrs

and CVS fruit (178-325 g/fruit) of 6.2 tons/ha/2 yrs
 GA3 applied prior to exponential
fruit growth

• GA3 applied just prior to exponential fruit

growth stimulates summer vegetative shoot
growth, which increases inflorescence number
the following spring. This is especially
important in heavy crop years to mitigate
alternate bearing.
• GA3 should not be applied during phase
transition; GA3 can inhibit floral development.
 Foliar-applied 6-Benzyladenine
6-BA (25-50 mg/L; 2,337 L/ha) at full bloom to
increase fruit size to 270-397 g/fruit, without
reducing yield

Full bloom

Net increase in yield of large fruit (270-397 g/fruit) of

4.4 tons/ 272 trees/ha/3 yrs; reduces yield of small
fruit (< 178 g/fruit) with no effect on total yield
 Foliar- or Irrigation-applied 6-BA
6-BA (foliar 25-50 mg/L; 2,337 L/ha) or (1 kg/ha at
the end of the irrigation) prior to exponential fruit
growth to increase yield of CVS fruit (178-325 g/
fruit), with no reduction in total yield
Prior to exponential fruit growth

Net increase in CVS fruit (178-325 g/fruit) of 6.5

tons/ha/2yrs foliar and 5.9 tons/ha/2 yrs irrigation
Foliar- or Irrigation-applied 6-BA prior
to exponential fruit growth

• 6-BA applied just prior to exponential fruit

growth stimulates summer vegetative shoot
growth, which increases inflorescence number
the following spring. This is especially
important in heavy crop years to mitigate
alternate bearing.
 Foliar-applied 2,4-D
2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid (94-110 g acid
equivalents/2,337 L/ha) prior to exponential fruit
growth to increase yield of large fruit (213-269 g/
fruit), with an increase in CVS fruit (178-325 g/
fruit) and no reduction in total yield
Prior to exponential fruit growth
Phase transition
X

Net increase in large fruit (213-269 g) of 5.4 tons ha/2

yrs and CVS fruit (178-325 g) of 8.2 tons/ha/2 yrs
 2,4-D applied prior to exponential
fruit growth

• 2,4-D thickens the fruit pedicel (stem)

increasing transport of water and metabolic
resources into the fruit, which improves fruit
growth and fruit retention.
2,4-D should not be applied at phase transition; it
might have a negative effect on return bloom.
2,4-D should not be allowed to drift onto other
plants; 2,4-D can be an herbicide.
 The PGRs had No Negative
Effects on Avocado Fruit Quality
External fruit quality
• Exocarp abnormalities or discoloration
• Exocarp color

Internal fruit quality

• Fruit width and length
• Seed diameter
• Mesocarp width
• Mesocarp abnormalities or discoloration
• Mesocarp vascularization (presence of
vascular bundles and associated fibers)
 Take Home Message

Based on these results,

and others not presented here,
properly timing PGR and fertilizer
applications to key stages of avocado
tree phenology increases yield of
commercially valuable large size
fruit and grower net profit.
 PGR abbreviations
1-MCP 1-methylcyclopropene
2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid
2,4,5-T 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid
3,5,6-TPA 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl-oxyacetic acid
6-BA 6-benzyladenine
ABA abscisic acid
AVG aminoethoxyvinylglycine
CK cytokinin
CPPU N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N-phenylurea
GA3 gibberellic acid-3
NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid
PBZ paclobutrazol
Pro-Ca Prohexadione-calcium
 Commercially Available PGRs
Auxins
2,4-D Citrus Fix; AMVAC; other sources
2,4,5-T Many sources
3,5,6-TPA Maxim; Agriphar
NAA AMVAC
GA3 ProGibb; ProGibb LV Plus; Valent BioSci.
Cytokinins
6-BA MaxCel; Valent BioSciences
Kinetin 1/7 the effect of 6-BA; X-Cyte; Stoller
CPPU Not a true CK; KT-30; Many sources
Adenosine CK precursor; PrimacyAlpha; Verdesian
S-ABA ProTone SG; Valent BioSciences
Ethylene Ethephon, Ethrel; Bayer CropScience
 Commercially available PGRs

Anti-GA Blocks synthesis or action of GA

Pro-Ca Many names; BASF
Uniconazole Many names; Sumitomo
PBZ Many sources
Anti-ethylene Blocks synthesis or action of ethylene
AVG ReTain; Valent BioSciences
1-MCP SmartFresh; AgFresh (Rohm and Haas)