New avocado discovery could shave years off breeding cycles

For centuries, avocados have kept one of their biggest secrets close to the pit.

But researchers from UC Riverside say they've finally cracked the code on the big question: how does an avocado tree decide whether to flower as male or female?

It’s all in the genes: By sequencing DNA and tracking gene activity in avocado flowers around the clock, the team identified a genetic marker, called SDMYB, that controls whether a tree becomes an A-type or B-type, the two flowering patterns needed for successful pollination.

• A-type plants open female flowers in the morning and male ones in the afternoon, while B-type plants do the opposite.
• Avocado growers intentionally plant a mixture of both to maximize pollination and fruit production.

The breakthrough could lead to more avocado variety

Prior to the latest research, farmers and scientists couldn’t distinguish between A- and B-type avocado trees until they flowered—a process that can take up to 15 years—making breeding new varieties a slow and expensive process. But the newly discovered SDMYB genetic marker lets researchers identify that trait while the tree is still a seedling.

With growers facing hotter temperatures and shifting growing conditions, breeders say the discovery could shave years off the time it takes to develop hardier, more productive avocado variants.

Zoom out: It comes as America’s avocado obsession has fueled skyrocketing demand in recent decades, with US avocado consumption roughly quadrupling since 2000.